Farmers motivated to adopt diversified cropping system

LUDHIANA: To mark the International Day for Biological Diversity, a farmers’ awareness programme was organised at Khosa Pando village, Moga, in which the Punjab Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (PAMETI) highlighted the need for biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use.

Experts during a nature walk at Khosa Pando village in Moga. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 24

To mark the International Day for Biological Diversity, a farmers’ awareness programme was organised at Khosa Pando village, Moga, in which the Punjab Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (PAMETI) highlighted the need for biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use. The programme was organised under the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Moga.

Complying with the theme for International Day for Biological Diversity 2019, “Our biodiversity, our food, our health”, the programme focused on biodiversity as the foundation of our food and health, and a key catalyst for transforming food systems and improving human health.

The programme started with a welcome address by Dr Balwinder Singh Lakhewali, environmentalist-cum-project director, ATMA. Gurmeet Singh laid emphasis on the need to protect and conserve our natural resources as per the Guru Granth Sahib and motivated the farmers to adopt a diversified cropping system, instead of the prevailing paddy-wheat monoculture.

The director of PAMETI, HS Dhaliwal, highlighted the need for capacity building of all stakeholders, including farmers, extension officers and NGOs, to promote biodiversity conservation.

Various experts in different aspects of biodiversity were also present on the occasion. The ex-director of extension education, GADVASU, Dr RS Sahota, spoke about indigenous livestock breeds for conserving biodiversity.

Onkar Singh Braich of Punjabi University, Patiala, gave inputs on aquatic diversity and restoration of village ponds. Tejdeep Kaur Kaler from the Department of Zoology, PAU, discussed the status of avian diversity in the state, reasons for its fall and immediate need to conserve it. Parmjit Singh Brar, chief agriculture officer, Moga, updated the knowledge of farmers regarding traditional crop choices for better health and biodiversity conservation. The technical sessions by the experts were followed by a nature walk, in which Dr Lakhewali explained the importance of heritage trees that are on the verge of extinction.