SKIP ONE MEAL TO EDUCATE YOUR WARDS: S. MANPREET BADAL URGES FARMERS

LUDHIANA

S. Manpreet Singh Badal, Minister of Finance, Planning and Employment Generation, Punjab, called upon the farmers of the state to skip one meal for educating their wards. He was speaking at the inaugural session of the 50th Kisan Mela of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) at Ludhiana today. “Education will open floodgates of opportunities for your children in diverse fields apart from agriculture,” he said while recalling his 25 years of political experience. S. Badal further stated, “The real development is not in terms of silver roads and golden walls, it is in terms of income enhancement, and happy and respectable life. The day you progress, you need not tell it to anyone, the hearths in your homes will speak of it.”

Punjab, a land of five rivers, is known for bravery and granary, he remarked, adding that these qualities are bestowed only with the grace of God. “Punjab may progress, but if its farmers are not happy, then state can never be happy,” he observed. The state has made substantial contribution in 70 years, but now farmers need to shift from paddy-wheat cycle to alternate crops, he suggested. Stating that government is parents to its people, he informed that Punjab government has decided to give Rs 2 lakh as debt relief to small and marginal farmers. For the first time in 70 years, agriculture policy is also going to be framed by Punjab State Farmers’ Commission,” he disclosed. S. Badal further revealed, “I have written to Union Finance Minister of India, Mr Arun Jaitley requesting him to rename Food Policy as Nutrition Policy.” Only PAU can contribute to this policy, he said, while congratulating University for ranking best in all aspects. “In my eyes, the hard work of PAU scientists seen in this Kisan Mela can change and secure the future of Punjab’s farmer,” he observed. Defence security as well as food security is equally important for the country and the states, he added. While concluding, he remarked, “There was a time when it was said, “Dab ke vaah, rajj ke khah” but now the time calls for “Akal na vaah, rajj ke khah (plough wisely, eat plenty).”

The high-spirited farmers of Punjab jam packed the open air theatre of PAU to listen to S. Badal and were all appreciation for him.

In his presidential remarks, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, said the theme of the mela aims at urging the farmers to cut expenses on social functions. He observed, “Last year, paddy, wheat and cotton saw record production. As compared to yield during 2001-10, the yield of wheat has risen by 4.5 quintals (q), paddy by 1q 60 kg, maize by 7q and sugarcane by 100q during 2011-17.” He also divulged, “According to Central government’s survey, the per family income of farmer in Punjab is Rs 18,000 while in Haryana, it is Rs 14,000. Even the cropping intensity in Punjab has jumped to 206 per cent.” But still agriculture crisis are prevailing, he pointed out. Dr Dhillon urged the farmers to reduce their cost of production and broaden their economic horizon by engaging themselves in processing, mushroom cultivation, beekeeping, dairy and poultry farming, etc. He also advised the farmers to adopt paddy straw management measures and see demonstrations showing different ways to mange stubble burning. Later, Dr Dhillon stressed on the farmers to spray basmati at present stage carefully.

Earlier, Dr Navtej Bains, Director of Research, PAU, welcomed the chief guest and the farmers. He apprised the gathering of the salient features of newly released varieties of wheat, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables.

Later, Dr Ashok Kumar, Director of Extension Education, PAU, proposed the vote of thanks.

Vivacity and avidity marked the first day of Golden Jubilee Kisan Mela. The chief guest honoured four progressive farmers and one woman entrepreneur. S. Jagtar Singh Gill of village Sireye Wala, district Bathinda, was awarded “Parwasi Bharti Award 2017” while S. Harpreet Singh of village Haripur, block Amloh, district Fatehgarh Sahib, was conferred with “S. Ujagar Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award 2017.” S. Satvir Singh Saran of village Sidana, district Bathinda, was awarded “S. Surjit Singh Dhillon Award 2017” while S. Sukhdev Singh Bhullar of village Bhullar Bhet, district Kapurthala, was conferred with “Sardar Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award 2017.” Kumari Rekha Sharma of village Ramgarh Sikri, tehsil Mukerian, block Talwara, district Hoshiarpur, was awarded “Sardarni Jagbir Kaur Memorial Award 2017.”

One agriculture officer and four PAU scientists were also honoured for their contribution to agriculture. These included S. Beant Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer (Fazilka); Dr H.S. Rattanpal, Senior Horticulturist; Dr R.S. Boora, Horticulturist, Fruit Research Station (Bahadurgarh); Dr Bhupinder S. Dhillon, Associate Director (Training), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Naag Kalan (Amritsar); and Dr Harinder Singh, Deputy Director (Training), KVK Fatehgarh Sahib.

At the mela, a postal stamp made specifically for the 50th Kisan Mela of PAU was also released by the chief guest. A set of five publications were released in addition to one book promoting simplicity in life. Farmers made a beeline at PAU to purchase quality seeds of various crop varieties and farm literature.