5th Kisan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University

Punjab Agricultural University organized 5th Kisan Mela of the forthcoming rabi season at its Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Patiala on September 18, 2013.

Focusing on the “Do not burn paddy straw, do not evoke people’s wrath” it was an initiative to create awareness about how to tackle with changing climate.

Via this mela there was face-to-face interaction of farmers with university Scientists for efficient exchange of knowledge and this was the main motive to organize this Kisan Mela.

Mela was inaugurated by Smt. Karamjit Kaur Danewalia, a progressive Kinnow grower and Member, PAU Board of Management while PAU Vice Chancellor, Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon presided over. Two eminent farm scientists – Dr. M.S. Basu and Dr. Ram Parkash from Hindustan Insecticide Limited, New Delhi were invited as special guests.

Dr. Dhillon, giving his presidential speech said that not only farmers but Scientists also got to know lots from the farmers through this face to face interaction. “Paddy straw burning by farmers is causing huge loss of precious nutrients and at the same time it is polluting the environment. Heat generated by burning paddy straw kills useful microbes in the soil leading to poor soil health and loss of soil fertility, he said. He urged the farmers to stop burning paddy straw and adopt other alternate eco-friendly means of its disposal developed by the university. Farmers can use Happy Seeder for sowing wheat into paddy stubbles while retaining parali as surface mulch. This technology helps in lesser wheat growth and improved soil health” he said.

There was an announcement that PAU has recently evolved a new technology to produce biogas from paddy straw.

Other eminent speakers were Dr. P.S. Chahal, Associate Director of Research, Dr. M.S. Gill, PAU Director of Extension Education, Smt. Karamjit Kaur Danewalia,

Event was ended with expression of vote of thanks by Dr. G.P.S. Sodhi, Associate Director (Training), KVK, Patiala.

Source: Gurjot Kaur, click4college Specialist