Kisan Mela gets off to slow start

Due to the widespread natural disaster faced by the state due to torrential rains, the two-day Kisan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) witnessed a slow start today.

Amidst a sombre atmosphere sans cultural programmes, the agricultural fair communicated the message of embracing self-reliant entrepreneurship via its theme, “Make products from farm produce to accrue agri-income.”

Chief guest Harchand Singh Barsat, Chairman, Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board, while inaugurating the mela, bemoaned the existential crisis that was a result of incessant rains in the state.

When losses pegged at Rs 20,000 crore, the allotment of a meagre amount of Rs 1,600 crore by the Centre for flood relief had left the state at the mercy of the state government and its own people, he observed. Advocating the adoption of PAU recommended varieties and kitchen garden for commercial production and domestic consumption, Barsat assured full support to the university in the coming times.

Presiding over the mela, Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal expressed grave concern over the flood situation in Punjab in the wake of relentless rains. “Ravi has caused the maximum damage,” he observed, while stating that it was a harrowing experience to see 5 lakh acres of area, farm machinery, animals, food items etc being swept in the river’s current. Pointing out the emergence of ‘silt,’ Dr Gosal voiced serious concern over its damaging effects on the next crop cycle.

Realising the gravity of the situation, the PAU has decided to provide subsidised wheat seeds to the state’s farmers this year with a valuable contribution from the teaching and non-teaching staff, he informed the farmers.

Dr TS Riar, Additional Director Communication, called upon the participants at the mela to adopt PAU recommended wheat varieties—PBW 826 and PBW 872—which had won national recognition.

Progressive farmers honoured

On the occasion, five progressive farmers, including one woman, were feted for making outstanding contributions to agriculture and allied enterprises. Manpreet Singh of Fatehpur village, in Hoshiarpur district, was conferred the Parvasi Bharti Award, while Sukhtar Singh of Sangatpura village, in Sangrur district, was awarded the Sardar Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award. Chanan Singh Saran of Tarn Taran district, was honoured with the Sardar Ujjagar Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award, whereas Sanjeev Kumar Kahol of Mehalwali village, Hoshiarpur district, was awarded the Sardar Surjit Singh Dhillon Award. Gurpreet Kaur of Kalyan village, Patiala district, was conferred the Sardarni Jagbir Kaur Grewal Memorial Award.