Experts urge farmers to avoid crop residue burning at Kisan Mela in Abohar

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) organised a Kisan Mela at the ICAR-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), Abohar, today, as part of the Crop Residue Management Project. During the event, experts urged farmers to refrain from burning crop residues and advised them to adopt crop diversification and food processing practices to increase their income.

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Dr RC Maheshwari, former Vice-Chancellor of Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, who was the chief guest, emphasised the importance of research institutions like KVK and CIPHET in supporting farmers’ growth and providing essential knowledge. Dr K Narsahia, Additional Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), discussed the ongoing research aimed at improving crop residue management techniques and encouraged farmers to incorporate food processing to enhance their profitability. Dr Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director of CIPHET Ludhiana, highlighted the alarming fact that agricultural produce worth Rs 4 lakh crore is wasted annually post-harvest. He stressed that addressing post-harvest losses could not only serve as a valuable resource for the country but also increase farmers’ earnings.

Krishna Pal Rajput, Sub Divisional Magistrate of Abohar, acknowledged Punjab’s crucial role as the food bowl of India. He spoke about the agricultural challenges faced by the state and urged farmers to focus on producing high-quality crops, using fertilisers and pesticides judiciously, and managing crop residues responsibly.

The event also honoured the office bearers of the CIPHET-KVK Farmers’ Club and 12 progressive farmers from the district for their contributions. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, a member of ICAR’s advisory committee, discussed the significance of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). Experts from Punjab Agricultural University, including Dr Anil Kumar, Dr Manpreet Singh, and Dr Jagdish Arora, provided valuable insights on various crops and horticulture practices.

Dr Amit Nath, Regional Head of CIPHET, welcomed the attendees, while Dr Arvind Ahlawat, Head of KVK Abohar, expressed gratitude to all participants. The event, which was moderated by Dr Bhupinder Kumar, saw a large turnout of farmers who explored the various exhibitions on display. A cultural performance, the traditional Jhoomar folk dance of Fazilka, was a major highlight of the event.