Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan promotes scientific farming among Sirsa growers

An agricultural awareness campaign under the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan was held on Saturday in various villages of Sirsa district including Khairekan, Mirpur, Jhopra, Mallewala, Budhabhana, Bapp, Humaukhera, Patti Kripal, and Mojukhera. The campaign focused on educating farmers about pest control, crop diseases, animal care, and government farming schemes.

Experts from institutions like the Central Institute for Cotton Research, National Dairy Research Institute, Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Sirsa, and the Horticulture Department participated. They gave farmers detailed information on issues such as pink bollworm and whitefly in cotton crops, suggesting the use of sticky and pheromone traps for pest control. Farmers were also advised not to mix multiple pesticides and to use neem-based sprays.Officials from the animal husbandry department explained how better feed and artificial insemination could improve livestock quality and milk production. They also shared methods to prevent diseases like mastitis and foot and mouth in animals.

Scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendra discussed diseases in moong and paddy crops, and recommended direct seeding of rice to reduce water usage. The horticulture team informed farmers about government subsidies on fruit and vegetable crops, as well as on beekeeping and mushroom cultivation. The fisheries department gave details on fish varieties suitable for village ponds. Agriculture experts advised farmers to use fertilisers and pesticides in the prescribed quantity and read instructions carefully before use. They also promoted natural farming and discouraged burning of crop residue, which harms soil health. Farmers were encouraged to apply for various schemes through the website agriharyana.gov.in.

Officers including Dr Pyare Lal, Dr Sukhvinder, Dr Deepak, and Dr Gurdeep Gill from the Agriculture Department were present during the campaign along with local farmers.