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Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service
Faridkot, September 17
“Wind is the teacher, water is the father, and Earth is the greatest mother.” This was the crux of the message that agriculture experts and scientists wanted to give to the farmers at a kisan mela organised by Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) and Agriculture Department here on Tuesday.
On the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, PAU and Agriculture Department sought to rely on a Japji Sahib shloka “pavan guru paani pitaa, maataa dharat mahat” to impress upon the farmers to take care of water, soil and environment for self-satisfaction and respect to nature.
Divulging the theme of the fair that alludes to the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev, Additional Director of Research (Extension Education) Dr GS Butter sought to remind the farmers of their responsibility towards the environment.
He extolled them to keep the teachings of the great Guru on mind and play their positive role in sustaining the biodiversity of the environment. He expressed concern over the declining water level, urging the agriculture community to take requisite steps to saving the Earth from an impending ecocide.
Dr KS Khokhar, former vice-chancellor, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University, Hissar, was the chief guest at the fair. He applauded the research and extension activities of PAU.
He commended the outreach programmes of the university that allow effective dissemination of scientific knowledge to all. Dr Khokhar said fairs act as a befitting platform to interact with farmers of the state, allowing them to enhance their farm-related knowledge from a scientific perspective.
He appealed to the government to adopt integrated farm practices and e-marketing techniques to find a solution to the present day problems that mar agriculture of Punjab.
Dr Navtej Singh Bains, Director of Research, PAU, highlighted the research achievements of the university. He urged the farmers to adopt new varieties such as Wheat PBW752, Mungi SML1827, Hybrid Tomato PTH2, Hybrid Onion PSM1, Punjab Karela 15 and Punjab Nawab Kadu. He also mentioned the new farm machineries such as improved happy seeder, trench planter and paddy transplanters being developed by PAU.
Dr Bains stressed on the need to conserve the natural resources and urged the farmers to adopt the practices of drip irrigation, agriculture without land and bio-insecticides to preserve the health of the soil.
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