Punjab: PAU Kisan Mela gets its life back after 3 years

LUDHIANA: Coming out of the virtual mode following three years of Covid-19 pandemic, the PAU Kisan Mela finally got its life back on Friday as farmers from all over Punjab and adjoining states thronged the 2-day event, hoping to take back the wealth of knowledge related to the farming sector.
The offline event comes at a time when the Punjab Agricultural University is observing its diamond jubilee on the completion of 60 years of giving service to the farming community.
'Kisani, jawani ate paun-paani bachaea, aao 'Rangla Punjab' banaea' (Come, let use make Rangla Punjab by saving youth, farming and natural resources) has been chosen as the theme of the event.
The event was inaugurated by Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann. With folded hands, he made a special request to scientists of PAU. He said, "You have to visit the farmers and their fields as farmers cannot bring the diseased and infected crop to the university.
Farmers should not resort to non-recommended spraying. There is a need to bridge the gap between problem and solution, and so experts must reach the fields."
"I had coming to this mela when nobody knew me; then as an artist too and now as the chief Minister. Punjab has a fertile land and diligent farmers who can work for 20 hours a day, but the only issue is what will happen when the insect-pest or disease attacks the crop," he said.
Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, minister for rural development and panchayats, NRI affairs, agriculture and farmers' Welfare, Punjab said, "The present times call for saving the kisan (farmer) and the kheti (farming), and that farmers should not burn paddy straw as it pollutes the environment and results in serious health hazards."
PAU vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal called upon the farmers to sow university-recommended varieties of crops for higher yield and profitability, diversify their cropping pattern by going for horticultural crops (fruits, vegetables, flowers and agro-forestry), make judicious use of water for its conservation, adopt straw management technologies for environmental protection.
Awards for farmers
Five progressive farmers including a woman were honoured at the event. Satpal Singh Toor (village Sawadi Kalan, district Ludhiana) and Amritpal Singh Randhawa (village Fuglana, district Hoshiarpur) were conferred with 'Parvasi Bharti Awards 2022' for excellence in crop diversification.
Satnam Singh (Burj Tharoar village, Bathinda) was honoured with 'Surjit Singh Dhillon Award 2022' for making strides in agriculture as a small farmer. Manjit Singh (Karanghana village, Mansa) was felicitated with 'Sardar Ujaggar Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award 2022' for excellence in vegetable cultivation.
Veerpal Kaur (Romana Albail Singh village, Faridkot) was awarded 'State Awardee Sardarni Jagbir Kaur Memorial Award 2022' for gaining recognition in allied agri-occupations. Besides, four PAU scientists - Sandeep Singh, J S Brar, K B S Gill and Narinderpal Singh - were honoured for their significant contributions to agriculture.