A one-day training programme on “Agro-forestry” was organised by the School of Organic Farming, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) at the village Mardanpur, district Patiala in which more than 80 farmers participated. The farmers were guided about the importance and need of integrated farming systems to fulfil their domestic needs.

Dr Sohan Singh Walia, Director-cum-Principal Agronomist, School of Organic Farming, delivered a lecture on integrated farming systems. He stressed upon the benefits of adopting integrated farming systems especially for small and marginal farmers of Punjab for livelihood security and better living standards. He also discussed different components that could be adopted under integrated farming system such as dairy, crops, horticulture, agro-forestry, fishery, kitchen gardening, goatry, biogas etc. that provided round the year income to the resource poor farmers of Punjab.

Dr Jasvinder Singh, Principal Agronomist, while welcoming PAU experts and trainees, advised the farmers to consult experts of Farm Advisory Service Centres and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Patiala before going in for any type of field operations. Dr Singh also them to adopt integrated farming systems for nutritional security and income enhancement. Besides, he discussed in brief the benefits of adopting climate smart integrated farming system for sustainability and profitability of farmers.

In the technical session, Dr Baljeet Singh, Principal Soil Chemist, emphasised on adopting PAU recommendations for successful and profitable cultivation of agro-forestry. Further, he highlighted the importance of planting trees and greenhouse gas emissions.The tree saplings were distributed to the farmers and they were encouraged to plant forestry plants in their farms.

Dr Vajinder Pal Kalra, Agronomist, explained the activities of the School of Organic Farming and discussed Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) that could be adopted in various field crops for income enhancement of farmers.

Lal Singh, a farmer from Mardanpur village, motivated the growers to attend such trainings in large numbers in order to avail benefits from new technologies. Tree saplings given by the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources were distributed amongst farmers.