PAU to honour five progressive farmers and one farm woman at Kisan Mela
Babushahi Bureau
Ludhiana, September 10, 2024: The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) will facilitate five progressive farmers and one farm woman on the first day of the Kisan Mela on September 13 for marching towards the path of excellence in agriculture and horticulture as well as emerging as a guiding light for the fellow farmers, women and youths.
A self-cultivating small farmer, Karnail Singh, a son of Gurmeet Singh and resident of village Bassi Gulam Hussain, district Hoshiarpur, will be feted with “Sardar Surjit Singh Dhillon Award” for unleashing his utmost dedication to organic vegetable cultivation.
He has contributed remarkably towards residue-free vegetable production through the use of vermi-compost for soil health maintenance and mulching technique for weed management.
A member of PAU Kisan Club and Organic Farmers’ Club, Karnail Singh has always remained in touch with Krishi Vgyan Kendra (KVK), Hoshiarpur for timely technical guidance and practices self-marketing via Atma Kisan Hut and Safe Food Mandi.
Another small farmer from Tharajwala village of Sri Muktsar Sahib district, Gurpeet Singh, a son of Balwinder Singh, will also be conferred with “Sardar Surjit Singh Dhillon Award” for gaining strides in crop diversification through productive vegetable cultivation.
A highly sensible vegetable grower, Gurpreet Singh is engaged in healthy nursery production with PAU’s scientific expertise, water conservation through the use of sprinkler irrigation and underground water pipes, and soil health preservation via the use of green manure.
He upgrades his knowledge by seeking assistance from agri-experts of KVK, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Bathinda as well as Farm Advisory Service Centre, Bathinda.
A 50-year old progressive farmer, Bal Krishan, a son of Ziley Singh and resident of village Bhulan, district Sangrur, will be awarded “Sardar Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award” for touching great heights in agriculture during a long span of 30 years. Practicing farming on 22 acres of his ancestral land and 30 acres on lease, Bal Krishan has never set straw on blaze since 2013, rather grows wheat without burning straw. Besides, he grows basmati, green fodder, bajra and jowar in his kitchen garden for domestic consumption; and doubles his income through mushroom cultivation, beekeeping, poultry farming, agro-processing and value addition via desi ghee and sarson oil extraction.
Belonging to village Hayatpura, tehsil Smarala of district Ludhiana, Mohandeep Singh, a son of Balwinder Singh, will be honoured with “Sardar Ujjagar Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award” for unveiling his unwavering devotion to vegetable production on 25-35 acres during 12 years of agricultural experience. He sows different colours of carrot comprising red on 26 acres, yellow on two acres, orange on 20 acres, white on one acre and black on eight acres; white and red radish on 10 and one acre; French beans on 14 acres; chilies on 10 acres, pumpkin on 15 acres; and cauliflower on eight acres. A successful vegetable seed grower, he is following the recommendations of PAU, Ludhiana and institutions based in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as well as providing the vegetable seed to the farmers of nearly 200 diverse areas.
Holding 11 acres of ancestral land, a matriculate Kulwindert Kaur, wife of Hardeep Singh of village Kath Mathi of district Patiala, will be presented “Sardarni Jagbir Kaur Grewal Memorial Award” for being a progressive entrepreneur. She has acquired training in milk production, phulkari embroidery, and tie and dye from KVK, Patiala; and is contributing to economic enhancement of her family through garment enrichment as well as dairy farming in terms of milk supply to the villagers. In addition, she grows less water consuming rice varieties, moong and dhaincha; levels field with Laser Land Leveller; and uses organic manure to reduce input cost.
Hailing from village Ram Tatwali, district Hoshiarpur, Devinder Singh, a son of Pritam Singh, will be awarded “Parwasi Bharti Award” for practicing scientific farming on 26 acres (four acres own and 22 acres on lease) during his long association of 35 years.
He has made an immense contribution to diversification through groundnut cultivation for which he spares no technology and has highly mechanized it with the adoption of Inclined Plate Planter and Thresher.
Enriched with advanced knowledge, he attributes his success to PAU and CIPHET, Ludhiana; KVK, Bahowal; Farmer Welfare Department, Hoshiarpur; and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Kandi Self-help Group.
Decorated by the Indian government for his innovation, Devinder Singh also earns substantially from wheat, paddy and safeda cultivation as well as dairy farming.