 |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
Scientists warn against indiscriminate fertilizer use
Ludhiana, November 27 This was felt by delegates at the four-day international symposium on “Use of Balanced Fertilizers for Sustainable Crop Production” that concluded at Punjab Agricultural University on Saturday. The symposium, attended by 337 delegates, including 55 from 14 countries, was sponsored by the PAU and International Potash Institute, Switzerland (IPI). At the valedictory function, Indian Council of Agricultural Research Deputy Director General Dr J.S. Samra said the problems of "yield plateau" in food-grain production in the country in general and in the grain bowl - Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh - in particular posed a major challenge. It was therefore important for scientists to work in tandem. He said the ratio in which nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were being used in the Indo-Gangetic plains was nowhere near the ideal ratio of 4:2:1. It was time to increase the efficiency of fertilizers rather than continue with their indiscriminate use. The growing nutrient depletion, particularly of potassium, was a cause for concern. "Its continuous mining may alter the mineralogy of clays in the soils in a way that after a time period, it may be difficult to supply adequate quantity of potassium to crops even when heavy doses of potassium fertilizers are administered.” International Potash Institute Director Dr Hillel Magen and its India Coordinator Patricia Imas, who shared the dais with Dr Samra, reviewed the outcome of the symposium. They urged scientists and policy-makers to understand the increasing role of potassium in agriculture. It was potassium that counteracted frost injury in plants and scientists must try to understand the role of potassium in achieving crop resistance to "lodging, diseases and heat stress". Scientists said climate changes must be factored in future research because weather fluctuations during grain filling stage in wheat also affected production. This was much in evidence in Indo-Gangetic plains as also in South Asia, where the overall wheat production was declining. Therefore, perspective of balanced application of nutrients must be widened to take into consideration "national priorities, farmers' income, societal compulsions and new advances in sciences". The common refrain at the symposium helped in identifying various gaps existing in the balanced fertilization, which needs immediate attention. PAU Head of the Department of Soils Dr V. Beri said several papers pointed out that excess application of nitrogen and far little application of potassium fertilizers to field crops was causing imbalances. "This is a cause for anxiety but there is no need to feel panicky about nutrient depletion, particularly of potassium. However, at the same time, it is also important to recognise the importance of returning crop residues to the farms for effectively checking the potassium mining from soils.”
|
|
State losing ‘place of pride’ in agriculture
Ludhiana, November 27 Experts during a conference on productivity held here recently expressed apprehensions that if corrective steps were not applied to accelerate growth in the agriculture sector and enhance the income of farmers, and checks and balances were not applied to private investors, Punjab would lose its place of pride in agriculture sooner than later due to challenges posed by development in neighbouring states like Haryana. They feared, with more income coming from non-food grain sources like horticulture and vegetables etc, the rural suicide scene in the future would become more severe if sensible diversification was not done in Punjab. It was said during the conference that in the Indo-Gangetic plain as a whole, total factor productivity had drastically gone down and Punjab was no exception.
|
|
Private-aided schools remain closed
Mandi Ahmedgarh,
November 27 The activists announced that they would remain on the forefront during statewide agitation starting November 29. They presented a memorandum to Sangrur Deputy Commissioner S.R. Ladhar. Hundreds of activists of the Punjab State-Aided School Teachers’ Union went on a mass casual leave in protest against the alleged indifferent attitude of the government toward the outstanding demands of private teachers, including restoration of pension. Led by union district president Amrit Pal, teachers of local private-aided schools raised slogans against the Finance Minister, the Education Minister and the Chief Minister at MGMN Senior Secondary School there. The district president claimed that all employees of private schools in Sangrur district had proceeded on casual leave. "Irrespective of their rank, employees of all categories showed solidarity with the union. None of the schools in the district was open today," he claimed. Referring to the decisions taken at a district-level meeting, secretary Pawan Bansal claimed that the activists of Sangrur district would join them in their protest on December 1, when private teachers across the state would protest in front of the residence of Finance Minister Surinder Singla. A similar protest will be organised near Chief Minister’s residence in Patiala and teachers would start courting arrest from December 4, when schools would be closed indefinitely, said union leaders. Though the state government had implemented pension scheme for private aided schoolteachers with effect from February 1987, the same was withdrawn after May 31, 2003. The teachers are now protesting to impress upon the government to restore pension and lift ban on fresh appointments in these schools. Employees from Jain Muni Shri Kundan Kanya Maha Vidyalya, Guru Nanak Kanya Maha Vidyalya, and GHG Khalsa Senior Secondary School left for Sangrur from Gandhi School.
|
|
‘Create awareness to safeguard human rights’
Ludhiana, November 27 Mr B.D. Budhiraja, Dean College Development, Panjab University, Chandigarh, presided over the seminar. He said self-awareness was key to safeguarding human rights. Scholars who read out their papers were Dr Ashutosh Kumar, Chairman, Department of Political Science, Panjab University, Dr Surinder Shukla, Prof Rajdeep Singh Gill, Dr Kuldeep Singh, Prof Monika, Dr Sunil Khosla and Dr Kanwaljit. They were unanimous on the view that although the state had a significant role in the protection of human rights, society and individual consciousness could safeguard it. They admitted the fact that sometimes the slogan of human rights was misused or human rights were used for selective purposes. In spite of these drawbacks, human rights must be protected in a civilised society. Earlier, Prof V.K.
Dheer, Head of the Department of Political Science, introduced the guests and educationists, while Dr
S.M. Sharma, Principal, welcomed the chief guest and other guests. Dr Shara also highlighted the importance of human rights and the need to generate awareness among people about its importance. Mr S.K. Sharma, former Additional Sessions Judge, also shared his views on the role of judiciary in safeguarding of human rights.
|
|
|
Merry-making at Blooming Bonanza
Ludhiana, November 27 Every team had something unique to present. The Rajasthani folk dance stole the show. Students also expressed through choreography their love for India. Girl awarded
Ramandeep Kaur of Sant Sunder Singh Public School, Boparai Kalan, Ludhiana, has secured the second position in a state-level recitation competition organised by the Punjab School Education Board, Mohali. Ramandeep recited a poem on the burning subject of female foeticide. She gives the credit of this achievement to the leadership and motivation of the Principal of her school, Ms Manpreet Kaur. The Deputy DEO, Ludhiana, Ms Sudesh Bajaj, extended her greetings on the achievement of the girl.
OC
|
|
Silver splendour at Sacred Heart
Ludhiana, November 27 Dr Priyank Bharati , ADC , Development , Ludhiana, was the chief guest. Former principals and members of the Sacred Heart Alumni Association also joined the celebrations. An impressive pantomime was also held, which depicted the mile stones achieved by the school in the last 25 years. Honey bee dance, kuchipudi and kathak dances enthralled students. Jane Austen's play, “Pride & Prejudice” ,and another play, “Jeewan Amrit”, were also staged.
|
|
GREAT help for students
Ludhiana, November 27 Dr Charan Bunger, founder trustee of the organisation, has offered help to financially weak students. Such students can apply for assistance to the charity through website
great4education.co.uk before March 31, 2007, so that eligible students can be given timely help.
|
|
Lawyers stage dharna against Bar president
Ludhiana, November 27 Mr Rajneesh Gupta claimed that the dharna was staged to press for the acceptance of the demand for referring the matter of scrutiny of proposed voters’ list to the committee constituted under clause (h) of section 10 of the DBA constitution. However, the Bar president, Mr Naval Kishore Chhibber, termed it as an election stunt to influence the voters. The joint secretary, Mr V. K. Goyal, also issued a press note and alleged that only a few lawyers forming the opposite group had staged the dharna. He claimed that the dharna was condemned by members of the executive committee of the association.
|
|
'Peerh Agammi' released
Ludhiana, November 27 Prof Gurbhajan Gill, senior vice-president of the Punjabi Sahit Akademy, and Dr Surjit Patar have given the foreword to the 32-poem anthology. Prof Niranjan Tasneem, chief guest, said the poems depicted the longing of an adolescence. Professor Gill said Jeet's poetry transcended the youthful emotions and created an image of accomplished fulfilment. He appreciated the efforts of NRIs to popularise Punjabi language and culture abroad. Prof Ravinder Bhattal, general secretary of akademy, who was the guest of honour also appreciated the book. Dr Jagtar Dhiman observed that Jeet’s poems reflected poet’s deep roots in his motherland. Appreciating the features of Jeet's compositions, Jaswant Zaffar said he had incorporated his juvenile outpourings. Presenting the first copy of the book to Professor Tasneem, Jeet Aulakh, an engineering graduate, said he derived ideas from his experiences and that his juvenile experiences served as an essence in his poetry. He recited some of his poems and shared his views on the need for promoting Punjabi language and culture, particularly both in home and abroad.
|
|
50 take part in literary function
Amloh, November 27 It was presided over by the secretary of the Maghi Memorial Trust and former council chief, Mr Tejwant Singh. Nearly 50 poets and writers participated in the function. Litterateur Sukhdev Madhpuri and Narinder Kaur, widow of Avtar Azad were honoured by the sabha. The poetic function began with “Ieh vi raat lang chuki hai” presented by Jagjit Gurum. Kashmiri Lal Khurana’s "Muskran to jee nahin lagta", Gurnam Bijli’s 'Vich bootey lagaunda koi hor kai', Ram Singh Albala’s 'Mapian vargi jag utey nahin koi sakiri' were appreciated. Surjeet Marjara and Professor Ram Nath Sukla paid tributes to late Avtar Azad. Story writers Mukhtiar Singh, Parsinder Albala, Mehar Singh Raiawal also presented their creations . Mr Satish Kumar and Mr Mehar Singh conducted the stage. Trustee Harbans Lal Pajni, college
superintendent Bhagwan Dass were also present on the occasion.
OC
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
