Sirsa farmers advised to adopt modern techniques for higher guar yield

A training camp was organised in Khaja Khera village of Sirsa district to promote modern farming practices for guar cultivation on Tuesday.

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Guar is considered a vital crop for rain-fed areas as it requires low investment and offers high returns. It also improves soil fertility, which benefits the next sown crops such as mustard and wheat by saving 25-30 per cent nitrogen needs.

Dr BD Yadav, a guar specialist, informed farmers that the second half of June was the best time to sow guar.

Farmers with access to canal water have already started sowing. However, some villages in the Rania block are still waiting for the monsoon.

He advised them to complete the sowing process by the end of June.

Dr Yadav recommended using certified seeds of improved guar varieties for better yield.

He also talked about root rot, a common guar disease that can reduce production by 20-45 per cent. To prevent this, he advised treating seeds with 3-gm Carbendazim 50 per cent (Bavistin) per kg seed.

This simple and low-cost treatment could control the disease by up to 95 per cent, he said.

He added that 100-kg super phosphate and 15-kg urea or 35-kg DAP should be used per acre during sowing.

For seed quantity, 3-kg HG 2-20 and 4-kg HG 365 should be sown per acre, he said.

Dr Yadav strongly advised farmers not to use unnecessary herbicides, especially for broadleaf weeds in standing crops, as these could affect the growth and yield of mustard crops. He also warned against using salty or sodic water from tubewells for irrigation, as it harmed the soil and stunted plant growth.

The camp was organised under the guidance of retired agronomist Dr Jagdev Singh, who encouraged soil testing and the use of well-decomposed cow dung during sowing.

He encouraged farmers to stay in touch with agricultural scientists and officials for better knowledge of modern farming techniques.

A quiz session was also held, and five farmers were awarded prizes for correct answers. The event witnessed the active participation of village head Ravi Kumar, progressive farmer Chandrabhan, and over 65 farmers.