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KVK Hoshiarpur organizes kisan mela on paddy residue management

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13 November 2021,  Punjab: Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana has been advocating non-burning of paddy residue and popularization of paddy straw management techniques for avoiding environmental degradation for the benefit of the people in campaign mode. To make the farmers aware about the different paddy residue management technologies, the district level extension agency of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bahowal, Hoshiarpur organized a Kisan Mela on 11-11-2021 at its campus.

Eminent horticulturist Sh. Kulwant Singh Ahluwalia, Member, Board of Management, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and Chairman, Punjab Agro Juices was the chief guest and Dr. Jagir Singh Samra, Senior Adviser (Renewable Energy Programme), CRRID, Ex-Chief Executive Officer (NRAA), NITI Aayog, Government of India and Ex-DDG (NRM), ICAR, was the special guest on this occasion. Dr. Gurjinder Pal Singh Sodhi, Additional Director of Extension Education, PAU, Ludhiana also graced the occasion as special guest. A large number of farmers, farmwomen and students participated in this Kisan Mela.

In his presidential address, Sh. Kulwant Singh Ahluwalia, Member, Board of Management, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and Chairman, Punjab Agro Juices said that management of paddy residue is the need of the hour. He also highlighted harmful effects of burning of paddy residue burning. He stressed upon the farmers to incorporate the paddy residue into the soil, which would improve the soil health and was ecofriendly technology. Sh. Ahluwalia also shared information on use of nanotechnology in agriculture and role of bio-fertilizers and their use.

Dr. Jagir Singh Samra, Senior Adviser (Renewable Energy Programme), CRRID sensitized the farmers regarding the effective utilization of natural resources and efficient management of crop residue for sustainable agriculture and safeguarding the environment. He laid stress on use of paddy straw for energy production and in paper industry. Dr. Samra also emphasized on the need of synergy between Government, industry and farmers for efficient management of paddy residue.

Dr. Gurjinder Pal Singh Sodhi, Additional Director of Extension Education, PAU, Ludhiana praised the efforts by various farmers of the district in taking lead in this campaign of paddy residue management. He advised the farmers to curtail the input cost in farming for more profitability of farm income. Dr. Sodhi exhorted the farmers and farmwomen to adopt the subsidiary occupations and come forward for processing & value addition of farm produce for augmenting their income.

Dr. Maninder Singh Bons, Deputy Director (Training), KVK Hoshiarpur discussed various activities being conducted by KVK Hoshiarpur for the welfare of the farming community. He also informed that as in previous years, this year also KVK Hoshiarpur has been organizing a campaign for managing paddy residue through awareness camps, trainings, demonstrations, mobilization of school and college students, wall paintings and literature distribution.

Dr. Amandeep Singh Brar, Deputy Director, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Dr. Subhash Chander, Agriculture Officer, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Garhshankar, Sh. Jasbir Singh, President, FAPRO, Sh. Jaswinder Singh, Lambran Kangri Multipurpose Cooperative Service Society, Lambran, Dr. Harpreet Singh, Agriculture Development Officer, Mahilpur, Dr. Harjit Singh, Horticulture Development Officer, Mahilpur, Mr. Navtej Singh, Milkfed, Hoshiarpur and Mr Shubham Sharma, Punjab Agro also participated in the Mela.

On this occasion, various technical lectures were organized for the benefit of the farmers/farmwomen. Dr. Sumanjit Kaur, Incharge, M. S. Randhawa Fruit Research Station, Gangian, Dasuya shared technical knowledge about the cultivation practices in horticultural crops, Dr. Gurpartap Singh, Associate Professor (Agronomy), KVK Hoshiarpur discussed about the cultivation practices for rabi crops, Er. Rupinder Chandel Asstt. Prof. (Agri. Engg.) from KVK Jalandhar 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. Tejbir Singh, Asstt. Prof. (Animal Science), KVK Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar discussed about management of dairy animals, Dr. Rakesh Kumar Sharma, District Extension Specialist (Entomology), Farm Advisory Service Centre, Gangian shed light on integrated pest management in rabi crops and Dr. Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh, Asstt. Professor (Vegetable Science), KVK Hoshiarpur shared important tips on mushroom cultivation.

To motivate the farmers for adopting residue management technologies, the villages adopted for in-situ paddy residue management during 2018-2022 by KVK Hoshiarpur -Todarpur, Pandori Ganga Singh, Panjoura, Kotla, Sakruli, Gujjarpur, Isspur, Makhsoospur, Bhagtupur, Jalvehra, Chakk Guru, Chauhran, Halluwal, Dandewal, Bahowal, Fatehpur Kalan, Lallian, Mehtabpur, Hukran, Bharta and Ganeshpur were honoured by the dignitaries on this occasion for commendable work in paddy residue management.

To create awareness about the harmful effects of paddy residue burning, a skit from the students of Doaba Public School, Parowal, Garhshankar was performed.

Students of Gursewa Institute of Science and Technology, Panam, Garhshankar organised a medical 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 and private companies also exhibited their products for display and sale.

Seeds of rabi crops-wheat, oats, ryegrass, onion, wheat and potato bio-fertilizers, 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.

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