Schedule for kisan melas
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 19
Punjab Agricultural University has finalised the schedule for kisan melas to be organised during March to educate the farmers on the current agricultural problems with particular reference to the kharif crops.

The first mela will be held at Regional Station, Bathinda, on March 5. This will be followed by a mela at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Rauni (Patiala), on March 13. The main two-day kisan mela will be organised on the university campus in Ludhiana on March 21-22. The series will conclude with a mela at Regional Station, Gurdaspur, on March 25.

Giving this information, Dr Jaspinder Singh Kolar, Director, Extension Education, PAU, said the main aim of the melas was to educate the farmers on value addition and judicious use of inputs. He said the methods adopted at the melas would include field demonstrations, agro-industrial exhibitions and question-answer sessions.

The other features of the melas will be farm produce competition, sale of improved seeds and farm literature and provision of on-the-spot diagnostic services for plant and animal disorders.

Mr V. K. Bhamboota, Convener of the agro-industrial exhibition committee, said the booking of stalls for agro-industrial exhibitions had started and an office for this purpose had been set up at Kairon Kisan Ghar on the university campus. 

257 animals examined
Our Correspondent

Doraha, February 19
Under the ‘Adarsh Gram Yojna an awareness camp on animal welfare and development in farming community was organised by Dr Harprem Singh Gill, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Ludhiana at Ikolaha village yesterday.

Four villages of each block have to be covered under the scheme and the scheme has been initiated from this village. The awareness camp was inaugurated by Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, member, Lok Sabha. He said:” Farmers apart from growing different crops should have dairy animals in order to improve their financial position and render diversification to their trade.”

Many dairy farmers and agriculturalists ensured their active participation in the camp. The farmers were educated about the modern dairy and animal husbandry techniques and definite solutions to the queries of the farmers came from the side of the experts gathered from the animal husbandry department.

A total of 257 animals, including cows, buffaloes, sheep, camel, horses, donkeys and elephants were examined by a team of doctors headed by Dr Ranjit Singh Khanna, Senior Veterinary officer along with the active support of a renowned social worker of the area , Dr Surinder Singh Shahpur. A general examination of 149 animals was conducted. Twentyseven underwent surgery, five had to undergo major operations, 26 were anoestrus cases, 27 P D cases and 72 animals underwent laboratory tests. The entire diagnosis and operations were conducted free of cost and the farmers expressed satisfaction at the performance of the department and urged the authorities to hold such type of camps from time to time. The farmers of healthy animals were also rewarded by the chief guest.

Goodwill car rally by PCTE
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 19
The PCTE organised a goodwill car rally yesterday as part of the fourth one-day inter-college literary-cum-cultural festival, “Ehsaas-2003”. It was organised to invite other colleges, industrialists and residents of the city to participate in the festival.

The car rally was flagged off by Mr Ishwar Das and Mr Bhagwan Das Garg, Managing Director, Pioneer Hyundai. Cars were decorated with banners and posters. Faculty members and students of the PCTE started their journey with enthusiasm. The rally passed through Dholewal Chowk, Campa Cola Chowk, Vishkarma Chowk, Jagraon bridge, Bharat Nagar Chowk, Mall Road, Fountain Chowk, Ghumar Mandi, National Road, Sarabha Nagar, Shastri Nagar.

Dr Kang, Director PCTE, appreciated the enthusiasm of the participants and said: “Despite bad weather, the spirit of the participants were high. The rally was successfully carried out as per the schedule to spread the festive feeling among Ludhianvis.”

SPORTS

Athletic meet from February 26
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 19
The 37th annual athletic meet of Punjab Agricultural University will be held on February 26-27 at the PAU Playgrounds. Dr K. S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, will inaugurate the meet. Dr J. S. Toor, Director, Students Welfare, said the best athlete would be given cash award of Rs 5,000 while those obtaining second and third positions will be given Rs 3,000 and Rs 1,000, respectively.

These awards have been instituted in the memory of eminent player and

former student Amarpal Singh Sandhu. The best women athlete will be awarded the Lata Mahajan Gold Medal.