On Friday morning, a large number of farmer attended the first day of the 'kisan mela' of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and 'pashu palan mela' of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) that opened on Friday on the PAU campus.
Albeit, the melas lasted for only a few hours due to the sudden downpour nonetheless the farmers got a chance to explore the latest techniques of farming and its allied activities. A number of live demonstrations were also held.
Minister of agriculture and NRI affairs Tota Singh was the chief guest at the event. In his address, he applauded the arrangements and urged the farmers to attend these melas each year. He said, “If Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has contributed enormously to the nation as well as the state, farmers of the Punjab have also equally played a prominent role in wiping out food deficiency and making the country self-sufficient in food grains,” while at the 'pasu palan mela' by GADVASU, he revealed that the government was committed to check the menace of adulteration of milk. “Since thE festival season is around the corner, the administration is being extra cautious about adulteration and appropriate steps will be taken to control it,” he added.
Vice-chancellor BS Dhillon of PAU said the mela was a highly important event for disseminating recent farm technologies and latest agri-knowledge among the farmers. Recently, PAU released new varieties including WH 1105 and PBW 660 of wheat, PMH 8 and PMH 9 of maize, PBR 357 of raya, PBG 7 of desi gram, and OL 10 of oats, he said. Dr Dhillon said that the tech-savvy era has enabled PAU to spread its wings in various parts of the state and fortify relationship with farming community.
{{/usCountry}}Vice-chancellor BS Dhillon of PAU said the mela was a highly important event for disseminating recent farm technologies and latest agri-knowledge among the farmers. Recently, PAU released new varieties including WH 1105 and PBW 660 of wheat, PMH 8 and PMH 9 of maize, PBR 357 of raya, PBG 7 of desi gram, and OL 10 of oats, he said. Dr Dhillon said that the tech-savvy era has enabled PAU to spread its wings in various parts of the state and fortify relationship with farming community.
{{/usCountry}}VK Taneja, vic-chancellor, GADVASU, said diversification within the livestock professions was also the need of the hour. “Besides dairy farming, fisheries, poultry, piggery and goat farming are the fine diversification options in livestock. Value addition of products may diversify these professions in a different mode,” he said.
Along with stalls by GADVASU and PAU, there were also many stalls put up by various companies that cater to agriculture and allied activities.