Kisan Mela at PAU: Agribusiness a fertile field for job creation, farmers told

Ludhiana, March 5

The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) held the first of its seven Kisan Melas amid fervour and enthusiasm at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Nag Kalan Jahangir, Amritsar, today.

The mela, which was based on the theme, “Kheti Naal Saahaaik Dhanda, Parivaar Sukhi, Munafa Changa”, was aimed at promoting blissful family life via enhanced income through the integration of subsidiary occupations with agriculture.

It was inaugurated by Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU. Dr Gosal welcomed the farmers, referring to them as the most integral part of the university and the propelling force behind all research university scientists were committed

to undertake.

Highlighting the institution’s spearheading innovations and manifold contributions to agricultural sciences, he said the PAU was currently focusing on conservation agriculture, developing hybrid varieties in vegetable and horticultural crops, apiculture, and farm mechanisation.

He urged farmers to opt for hybrid seed production, subsidiary occupations such as food processing, beekeeping, mushroom cultivation, etc., and to try self-marketing of their produce and processed products.

Dr Makhan Singh Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, PAU, reiterated the importance of crop diversification and residue management in addressing the agriculture sector’s challenges. He urged farmers to shift from being job seekers to becoming entrepreneurs by embracing agribusiness and processing as a means of job creation.

Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, PAU’s Director of Research, while sharing production-protection technologies, emphasised the importance of adopting an agribusiness module, highlighting the development of high-protein soy powder and extruded millet-based snacks (pasta, porridge, cookies, cake, muffins, bread, etc.) as examples of innovative food processing techniques.

Dr Dhatt added that the university had developed, recommended and released five crop varieties for general cultivation in Punjab. These included Pusa Basmati 1847 of basmati, DKC 9144 and Bioseed 9788 of maize, PCB 167 of bajra and Punjab Cheena 1 of proso millet.