Farmers attend training course 
From Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, Sept 22 — A 10-day training programme on plant protection and pest management, organised by the Punjab Agro-Industries Corporation, concluded on the PAU campus here today.

The programme, conducted by Mashav Israel under the international cooperation programme of the Israeli Government, was attended by 40 farmers and 15 development officers of the Horticulture and the Agriculture Departments.

Mr Jagjit Singh Ghungrana, Chairman, Punjab Agro-Industries Corporation, addressing the closing function, asked the participants to adopt advanced technology and practices learnt by them in the training programme. He said that plant protection and pest management very important subjects as some major crops like those of cotton, citrus and sunflower had been badly hit by various diseases and pests.

Certificates acknowledging the completion of training were given to the farmers by Mr Ghungrana.

PAUTA seeks financial aid 
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — Decrying the precarious financial condition of Punjab Agricultural University, its teachers’ association in a memorandum handed over to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, today, demanded financial help from the state.

The Punjab Agricultural University Teachers’ Association (PAUTA) drew the attention of the Chief Minister towards the contribution of the university towards bringing green revolution in the state inspite of several odds.

Mr H.S. Brar and Mr M.L. Gupta, President and Secretary of the association respectively, also urged the Chief Minister to allow recruitment to several vacant posts. The association feared that in the near future, a large number of teachers would retire and many posts would fall vacant and it would become difficult to run the affairs of the university.

The association also urged the state government, that posts of agriculture development officers and some related posts should be immediately filled from among the university graduates.