“Punjab will become a desert in the years to come if you don’t save water,” said Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab, while addressing the farmers at the inauguration of the two-day Kisan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. Tracing the history of food shortage after partition to attaining self-sufficiency in food grains later, the Chief Minister lauded PAU for its remarkable research in the development/recommendation of PV 18 and Lerma Rojo (wheat) and IR 8 (rice) that heralded Green Revolution. Further, he expressed concern over declining water table and promoted crop diversification among farmers. The Chief Guest Captain Amarinder Singh stated, “We need new crops as well as new irrigation technologies to tackle these problems.” “What are we going to leave for our future generations? Think of the future of Punjab. With shrinking land holdings and depleting water resources, use drip irrigation to save water, and stop burning paddy straw, instead use Happy Seeder to manage it,” he advised the farmers. The people of Delhi are not ready to stay in Delhi because of rising pollution, he observed, while asking the farmers not to spoil the environment of Punjab by burning paddy straw. Punjab government is committed to promoting vegetable industry and Kinnow marketing in the State at Amritsar, Halwara, Adampur, Bathinda and Chandigarh, he added. “With agriculture and industry flourishing, save future of Punjab,” he said to the farmers. Captain Amarinder Singh also called upon the farmers to visit Sultanpur Lodhi, Dera Baba Nanak and Kartarpur Corridor to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The guest of honour Sardar Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Minister of Jails and Cooperation, Punjab, hailed the mammoth gathering of farmers at PAU Kisan Mela. “Milk adulteration and drug addiction are the growing concerns for Punjab,” he said, while impressing upon the farmers not to adulterate milk and not to make their sons drug addicts. “Punjab has always been the ‘anndata’ (food bowl) and today there is a dire need to save Punjab’s Kisani (farming) and Jawani (youngsters),” he stated. Diversification calls for the attention and for this, we need assured marketing, he stressed. Sardar Randhawa called upon the State government to render fiscal support to PAU for research as from here “Hara Inquilab” (Green Revolution) ushered in. “It is only PAU which can save Punjab’s agriculture,” he remarked.
In his welcome address, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, said the two-day mela celebrates the 550th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who in his teachings had said: “Pawan Guru Panni Pita Mata Dharat Mahat.” This theme of mela coveys a special message to farmers to use air, water and soil wisely, he added. Dr Dhillon disclosed, “Despite challenges, pesticide consumption has come down and record yield has been obtained during the last year. In addition, whitefly in cotton and paddy straw have been managed successfully in the State. This has been possible because of the collective efforts of the State government, State Department of Agriculture, farmers of Punjab and PAU.” Informing about the newly released varieties, Dr Dhillon said University is focusing on precision farming, agro-processing and value addition, marketing and export, and kitchen garden concept.
Dr JS Mahal, Director of Extension Education, PAU, while proposing the vote of thanks, said; “Farmers are the shaan (pride) of this mela.”
Four progressive farmers were honoured on the occasion. S. Rubash Singh Jakhar of village Patrewala, district Fazilka, and S. Jagtar Singh Saran of village Mandi Khurd, district Bathinda, were conferred with “S. Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award” and “Parvasi Bharti Award,” respectively. S. Dalip Singh of village Kote Ramsar, district Faridkot, was awarded “S. Ujagar Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award” whereas Smt Paramjit Kaur of village Ajitwal, district Moga, was conferred with “Sardarni Jagbir Kaur Grewal Memorial Award.”
Apart from this, four scientists Dr JS Mahal, Director of Extension Education, PAU; Dr Gurjit Singh Mangat, Senior Rice Breeder; Dr SK Aeri, Director, State Department of Agriculture; and Dr Rajbir Singh Brar, Director, IACR-ATARI, Ludhiana, were honoured at the mela. The village Haripur, block Mahitpur, district Jalandhar, was conferred with “Bhai Babu Singh Brar Best Pond Award” while village Todarpur of district Hoshiarpur was awarded “Best Village Award.”
Later, Dr Dhillon honoured the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, and the State Minister of Jails and Cooperation Sardar Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa with shawls and mementos.
Dignitaries, namely S. Ravneet Singh Bittu, Member of Parliament (Ludhiana); Mr Surinder Dawar, Mr Rakesh Pandey and Mr Sanjay Talwar, MLAs (Ludhiana); Mr Suresh Kumar, Chief Principal Secretary to Punjab Chief Minister; Mr Karan Avtar Singh, Chief Secretary, Punjab, and Mr Viswajeet Khanna, Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture, Horticulture and Food Processing), Punjab, graced the occasion.
Farmers and farm women in large number thronged the mela and participated in live field demonstrations and technical session, purchased quality seed and farm literature, and participated in crop produce and home science competitions. The cultural programme also enthralled the audience during the mela. |
