PAU matchless, involves farmers’ participation: Guv

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 23

Thousands of farmers from different parts thronged the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Kisan Mela which commenced here today. 

Punjab’s Governor and Chancellor of PAU VP Singh Badnore inaugurated the Kisan Mela. On the occasion Badnore said, “Having been to various agricultural universities, I think PAU is matchless as it involves farmers’ participation which does not happen anywhere else in India.” 

Lauding the efforts of Punjabi farmers he said, “What you have done for the country cannot be forgotten. Farm varsities are researchers and you are the producers. You take forward the research done by the varsities.” 

The theme of Kisan Mela is “reduce farm expenses, use water and fertilizers judiciously; adopt subsidiary occupations and enhance agri-profit largely.” 

“I am also a farmer. Earlier there was no drop of water in Surajgarh and Ganganagar districts of Rajasthan. But now the water supplied by Punjab has strengthened the two districts,” Governor said. 

He also hailed efforts of PAU to curb whitefly menace and advocated the use of PAU’s Happy Seeder to put an end to stubble burning.

 Vice-Chancellor PAU Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon said Kisan Mela is an open platform where farmers can interact with scientists and address their farm related grievances. He urged the farmers to maintain farm records, focus on profit instead of income, use farm inputs as per recommendation, and adopt the practice of joint marketing and mechanisation for better profits. 

Stating that the PAU developed paddy varieties PR 121, PR 122, PR 124 and PR 126 have shown excellent results. Dr Dhillon said paddy varieties sown between June 15 -25 can save a lot of water. 

PAU scientists felicitated

• Dr Paramjit Singh, director, regional research station, Bathinda
• Dr Manmohanjit Singh, director, regional station, Ballowal Saunkhri
• Dr SC Sharma, associate director, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Samrala
• Dr Bhupinder Singh Dhillon, associate director, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Amritsar

Four progressive farmers honoured 

Hardeep Singh (Patiala) was conferred with Chief Minister award Gurvinder Singh Sohi (Fatehgarh Sahib) was honoured with Sardarni Prakash Kaur Sra Memorial award Jagmohan Singh (Moga) and  Tarsem Singh (Hoshiarpur) were felicitated with CRI Pumps award

Officer spearheads moment to save mother tongue  

• A retired Merchant Navy officer Mahinder Singh Sekhon, took rounds of the PAU campus on foot, holding a placard urging people to save mother tongue — Punjabi 
• Sekhon, who is a chairperson of Meri Maa Boli Punjabi Sabha, said he frequently goes to melas and requests people to use their mother tongue while communicating
• Schools can play a pivotal role in promoting Punjabi language but the sad part is that there are numerous schools where Punjabi is taught as an optional subject, he said
• Seeing people of Punjab drifting away from using their mother tongue causes a lot of pain and it is high time that the state government should seriously to address the  issue, Sekhon said.