City’s 2 farm melas to start Friday

Ludhiana: Preparations are in full swing for the forthcoming two-day Kisan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), and the two-day Pashu Palan Mela at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Gadvasu), both on March 24 and 25.
Aimed at the welfare of agricultural and dairy farmers, the two festivals receive a huge influx of visitors from Ludhiana and across the state. The PAU mela will focus on sustainability through use of water and fertilizers, and the theme is “Aao kheti kharch ghataiye, vaadhu paani khaad na paiye” (Let’s reduce farming expenses by not using extra water and fertiliser).
Inviting farmers and their families at the festival, PAU vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal stressed upon keeping aligned with the fast-changing needs of the farming community and providing timely solutions to their issues.
Director of research A S Dhatt urged the farmers to visit and learn about PAU-developed and recommended new horticultural varieties of apple, dragon fruit and other traditional and exotic vegetables, fruits and flower crops.
Gadvasu director of extension education Parkash Singh Brar informed that the Pashu Palan Mela will showcase technologies through exhibitions, and lectures would be held on various aspects of scientific livestock, fish and poultry rearing.
Besides, animals such as cattle, buffalo, goat and poultry will be exhibited, and literature and mobile apps related to dairy farming, animal husbandry and animal diseases would also be shared with the farmers.
Gadvasu VC Inderjeet Singh said over 100 stalls related to livestock rearing, pharmaceutical, cattle feed, equipment, fodder etc would be put up at the mela.