AGRICULTURE

Markfed to promote contract farming of onion
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 24
In order to tap the export market, Markfed has initiated steps to promote contract farming of brown onion. Farmers are being motivated to go in for the cultivation of brown onion. Markfed already has in-hand export orders of 2,000 tonne of brown onion.

Through its subsidiary M/s Mark Hort Potatoes (India) Limited, Markfed has arranged for the cultivation of onion in 250 acre under contract farming. This is being done on such a scale for the first time in the country.

To persuade more farmers to take to contract farming of onion, Markfed organised an interactive session in the Wheat Auditorium, Punjab Agricultural University, here today. The session was attended by more than 150 farmers of Ludhiana and adjoining districts. While the farmers explained about various problems faced by them in the cultivation of brown onion, the farm experts provided practical solutions to the issues raised by them.

The farmers were called upon to join hands with Markfed in its endeavour towards crop diversification and promotion of exports of fruits and vegetables. Mr S.S. Channy, Managing Director of the company, said Markfed had been having regular interactions with the farmers and the scientists of the National Horticulture Research Development Foundation (NHRDF) in the extension activities. He said brown onion was being cultivated for the first time and one had to learn the lesson and improve accordingly to provide quality product as per specifications of the importers.

Mr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, exhorted the farmers to work for the production of a good quality produce with consistent supplies. He emphasised the need for closer coordination between farm experts, farmers and exporters on a long-term basis to achieve this objective.

Dr S.P.S. Chouhan, Joint Director of the NHRDF, also addressed the farmers regarding post-harvest management and diseases management keeping in view the abnormal rise in temperatures in the region during the past few days.

Capt Rattan Singh and Mr Mohinder Singh Grewal, progressive farmers, also addressed the farmers and participated in a question-answer session.

Later, the farmers were taken round the farm of Mr Grewal at Kanganwal village to see the trial cultivation of brown onion.

EDUCATION

17 colleges take part in cultural fest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 24
Around 300 students from 17 colleges of the region participated in an inter-college cultural festival organised by the Punjab Institute of Management and Technology (PIMT), Mandi Gobindgarh, today.

During the cultural extravaganza, students from professional and other colleges of the region participated in various events like folk and western dances, skits, quiz, rangoli, mehndi, antakshari, choreography, creative writing, fashion show, cartoon-making, collage-making and solo song contests. The students also displayed their calibre in software brain games.

There were keen contests in the group dance event, which included bhangra, giddha and western dances. There were fits of laughter when the participating teams exhibited their talent in skits. Quiz was a close contest. Students sang folk and western songs with great skill in the Sur Sarita event. Mehndi and rangoli were other fascinating events organised in the morning session.

In rangoli, students from the Lovely Institute of Management and Technology, Phagwara, won the first prize. The team from the Apeejay Institute, Jalandhar, was declared second. Among the participants for mehndi competitions, Students from the Lovely Institute of Management, Phagwara, clinched the first prize. Students from the Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GGNIMT) stood second. In the ‘sell-it competition’, the team from the Punjab College of Technical Education, Baddowal, was declared first, followed by the team from the GGNIMT.

Dr S.S. Johal, eminent agro-economist of the country and Vice-Chairman of the Punjab State Planning Board, was the chief guest. He said such occasions gave a platform to students to compete as well as share their views among one another.

While elaborating the economic scenario of the country in the global background, he stressed upon the need to create potential workforce as an endeavour towards prosperity. Inheritance of the rich culture in its pure form was the key to success, he said. He said educational institutes played a great role in strengthening the cultural system.

Mr Komal Jain and Mr Nirmal Jain, both from Duke-Neva group, and Mr Laxminarayana, Regional Officer, All-India Council of Technical Education, graced the occasion as guests of honour.

Mr Komal Jain remarked that industry and technical institutes should interact regularly so that industry could get the right persons for the right jobs. Mr Laxminarayana said technical education must be through involvement of students in practical tasks. Many other industrialists, business managers, company representatives, professionals, teachers and others also attended the festival.

Mr N.K. Khanna, Mr R.P. Bhatia, Mr C.L.Garg and Mr Pawan Sharda, local industrialists, were also present on the occasion. An exhibition was also organised. Many business houses had set up stalls and banners to display their products on the occasion. Mr Swaranjeet Singh Bagli, president of the Gobindgarh Educational and Social Welfare Trust, presided over the function.

Dr O.P. Sahni, director of the PIMT, thanked the teams and guests. The day-long function ended with performances of Malwai giddha and western dance by students of the host college.

Students get degrees

The annual convocation and prize distribution function of Guru Tegh Bahadur National College, Dakha, was held here on Wednesday. Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, Ludhiana, was the chief guest.

The Principal of the college, Mr Amarjit Singh Grewal, welcomed the chief guest and other distinguished guests. He presented the annual report of the college and conferred degrees on 200 arts and commerce graduates. Dr Aulakh gave away prizes to sportsmen and toppers.

Dr K.S. Aulakh, said education was not only about giving knowledge, but also about imbibing other values. He warned the students about the use of intoxicants. He congratulated the degree holders, sportsmen and students who got prizes for excellence in various fields.

Mr Sher Singh Sekhon, president of the managing committee of the college, thanked the chief guest and other guests.

Those who got prizes were:

College Colours (cultural activities): Kulwinder Kaur, Prabhjot Singh and Gurpreet Singh .

College Colours (sports): Gurjant Singh, Patwarit Singh, Rajwinder Singh, Harpreet Singh (football) Amarjot Singh, Satwinder Singh, Sukhwinder Singh (basketball), Inderjit Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Parteek Kumar Karmjit Singh (cricket).

Mock test

The Economics Department of Kamla Lohtia Santan Dharam College organised mock test for postgraduate and undergraduate classes. A prize distribution function was also organised on the occasion. About 100 students took part in the competition.

Mr B.D. Budhiraja, Principal, and Mr Brijmohan Ralhan, secretary, management committee of the school, were present on the occasion. Mr Parvesh Saluja was the chief guest. Prof Mohmmad Saleem, Head, Department of Economics, read out the annual report of the department. Mr Saluja, donated Rs 10,000 for purchasing book for the department's library.

SAHNEWAL

Seminar at GNN College

The commerce and economics associations of GNN College, Doraha, organised a seminar on "business environment in India" on the college premises today. Dr B.P. Arya and Dr A.K. Vashisht, experts from Panjab University, delivered lectures on this topic.

Dr B.P. Arya elaborated upon the policies of the government from 1947 to 1991 in order to generate a protective environment to the haphazard and lopsided industry, agriculture and economy of today's India. He said, "the country was able be become self-sufficient in public, labour and technological sectors. Once we have opened ourselves to foreign investment we must be vigilant enough to think and act wisely."

Dr A.K. Vashist spoke on risk management, capital asset model and options. Prof Gursharanjit Singh, Head, Commerce Department, welcomed the resource persons. Mr Jaswant Singh Gill, Principal of the college, thanked the guests for making students and staff aware of the recent developments taking place in the industry.