Farmers urged to cultivate medicinal mushrooms

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 2

Agricultural scientists of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) deliberated on production of medicinal mushrooms and alternate crop for waterlogged paddy in Punjab during the monthly training camp of the PAU Kisan Club held on Thursday. The women’s wing of the club visited the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshehar) and Regional Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri.

In total 370 farmers, including 33 farm women from various parts of Punjab attended the camp, organised under the guidance of Dr JS Mahal, Director of Extension Education, PAU.

Dr TS Riar, coordinator of the club said the farmers were shown a documentary on whitefly management and natural resource conservation. He stressed on cooperative farming for better economic returns.

Dr HS Sodhi, microbiology expert highlighted the importance of medicinal mushrooms and urged the farmers to cultivate them.

Another PAU expert Dr HS Minhas underlined the need for diversification by switching over to alternate crops. Dr Jaswinder Singh, an expert from the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), acquainted the farmers with formulation of cattle feed.

Dr Rupinder Kaur, coordinator of women’s wing of the club, said the farm women were informed about the role of the PAU Kisan Club in upliftment of rural women.

Harinder Singh, a young farmer from the Gurdaspur district shared key points for success in agriculture. Dr Sandeep Chopra from the Fortis Hospital provided preventive measures for good health to farmers.

During the camp, farmers were also apprised of the use of multi-commodity exchange platform for agricultural products.