Agri varsity hosts fruit, vegetable growers’ meet

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, organised a joint meeting of the Farmers’ Committee and fruit and vegetable growers at the Pal Auditorium. The gathering saw active participation from PAU officials, fruit and vegetable experts and a large number of farmers from across the region. The primary focus of the meeting was to deliberate on the challenges faced by farmers in fruit and vegetable cultivation and to explore viable solutions through expert consultation and scientific practices.

Dr Makhan Singh Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, PAU, emphasised the importance of shifting towards market-driven fruit and vegetable cultivation. He highlighted that with today’s consumers becoming increasingly conscious about nutrition, farmers must adopt scientific farming practices to meet evolving demands. He also encouraged the use of PAU’s recommended crop varieties and farming technologies.

Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research, PAU, shared that the PAU’s Vegetable Research Centre had achieved tremendous national recognition. He provided insights into the university’s latest research initiatives, particularly in potato seed technology and fruit cultivation. Notably, he discussed advancements in dragon fruit, guava and improved kinnow varieties. Dr Dhatt appreciated the participation of progressive farmers and acknowledged their role in agricultural innovation.

Dr Tejinder Singh Riar, Additional Director of Communication, PAU, raised farmers’ concerns during the session. Farmers proposed incorporating maize and other alternate crops into the traditional wheat-paddy cycle to enhance sustainability. They also sought information on the PAU’s ongoing research and raised pertinent questions regarding reducing moisture in paddy and basmati, effective utilisation of low-quality water, scientific basmati cultivation, organic farming and the development of new orchards.