20 March 2023, Punjab: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hoshiarpur under the aegis of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and ICAR-ATARI, Zone-1, PAU Campus, organized a Kisan Mela on paddy residue management at its campus on 17-3-2023,
Dr. Manmohanjit Singh, Director, Dr.D.R.Bhumbla Regional Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhari, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar was the chief guest on this occasion. Dr. Gurdev Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Hoshiarpur and Dr. Inderjit Singh Hundal, Retd. Associate Director (Training), KVK Hoshiarpur graced the occasion as special guests. A large number of farmers, farmwomen and students participated in this Kisan Mela.
In his presidential address, Dr. Manmohanjit Singh sensitized the farmers regarding the effective utilization of natural resources and efficient management of crop residue for sustainable agriculture and safeguarding the environment. He stressed upon the farmers to incorporate the paddy residue into the soil, which would improve the soil health and was ecofriendly technology. Dr. Manmohanjit Singh also said that the farmers should avail the services of KVK for vocational trainings to startup new ventures, for updating latest technological interventions for agriculture and for quality seed material. He also emphasized on the importance of processing & value addition of farm produce for augmenting farm income.
Dr. Gurdev Singh while addressing the farmers said that management of paddy residue is the need of the hour. He informed that under the able leadership of the district administration, all departments were on their toes for ensuring paddy residue management and a briquette unit is being made operational very shortly in block Tanda for use of paddy straw as fuel. Dr. Gurdev Singh also exhorted the farmers to adopt subsidiary occupations and to curtail the input cost in farming for more profitability of farm income.
Dr. Maninder Singh Bons, Associate Director (Training), KVK Hoshiarpur discussed about various activities being conducted by KVK Hoshiarpur for the welfare of the farming community. He also informed that as in previous years, KVK Hoshiarpur organized an extensive campaign for managing paddy residue through awareness camps, trainings, demonstrations, mobilization of school and college students, wall paintings and literature distribution. He also said that KVK also provided machinery for paddy residue management to the farmers for use at nominal charges. Dr. Bons praised the farmers of the district for their important role in this campaign and complimented them for their sincere efforts which led to the reduction of paddy straw burning incidents by more than 20 percent.
Dr. Subhash Chander, Agriculture Officer (Retd.), Garhshankar, Dr. Dinesh Kumar, Joint Director (Retd.), Department of Horticulture, Govt. of Punjab, Dr. Kiranjit Singh & Dr. Harpreet Singh, ADO, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Hoshiarpur and experts from KVK Hoshiarpur- Dr. Gurpratap Singh, Associate Professor (Agronomy), Dr. Ajaib Singh, Assistant Professor (Agri. Engg.), Dr. Prabhjot Kaur, Assistant Professor (Entmology), and Dr. Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh, Assistant Professor (Vegetable Science), and Dr. Rohit Gupta, Assistant Professor (Animal Science), KVK Jalandhar also participated in the Mela.
On this occasion, various technical lectures were organized for the benefit of the farmers/farmwomen. Dr. Charanjeet Kaur, District Extension Scientist (Agronomy), Farm Advisory Service Centre, Gangian discussed about the cultivation practices for rabi crops, Dr. Ajaib Singh Asstt. Prof. (Agri. Engg.) from KVK Hoshiarpur informed the farmers about the various in-situ residue management technologies for the effective management of paddy residue, Dr. Navjot Singh Brar, Incharge, Vegetable Research Farm, Khanoura shared improved cultivation practices for vegetable crops, Dr. Aparna, Asstt. Prof. (Livestock Production), KVK Rupnagar discussed about management of dairy animals, Dr. Indira, District Extension Scientist (Horticulture) & Dr. Rakesh Kumar Sharma, District Extension Scientist (Entomology), experts from Farm Advisory Service Centre, Gangian shed light on improved cultivation practices for fruit crops & integrated pest management in rabi crops and Dr. Shikha Bathla, Asstt. Professor (Home Science), KVK Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar shared important tips on nutrition and diet planning.
To motivate the farmers for adopting residue management technologies, the villages adopted for in-situ paddy residue management during 2022-23 by KVK Hoshiarpur – village Denowal Kalan (block Garhshankar), villages Ajnoha & Tutomazara (block Mahilpur) and village Feroze Raulian (block Tanda) and various progressive farmers & farmwomen of the district were honored by the dignitaries on this occasion for commendable work in paddy residue management, adoption and excellence in crop diversification, subsidiary occupations & resource conservation technologies.
On this occasion, retired faculty of KVK Hoshiarpur- Dr. Inderjit Singh Hundal & Sh. Jarnail Singh, Jeep Driver and Smt. Parveen Kumari, Senior Assistant were also felicitated.
Students of Gursewa Institute of Science and Technology, Panam, Garhshankar organized a medical checkup camp on this occasion and also performed cultural item, giddha.
An impressive exhibition of technological interventions in agriculture and paddy residue management technologies and machinery was organized by KVK and other line departments. Various Self Help Groups, entrepreneurs, machinery manufacturers and private companies also exhibited their products for display and sale.
Seeds of kharif crops- paddy, basmati, summer moong, summer mash, wheat, fodder maize, pulse & oilseed kits, fodder kits, summer vegetable seed kits, fruit plants, mineral mixture, uromin licks and technical literature were made available for the benefit of the farmers on this occasion.
In the end, Dr. Maninder Singh Bons thanked the guests for gracing the occasion, all experts for delivering informative lectures and farmers/farmwomen for listening attentively to the proceedings of the programme.
