Broaden scientific approach to bring IInd Green Revolution

Ludhiana, Apr 5: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Director of Research B S Dhillon today said the time has come for the farmers to become innovative and adopt scientific approach to bring the second Green Revolution.

Speaking at the annual day function of the Scientific Farmers Club established by the state Department of Agriculture, Dr Dhillon said the relationship between PAU, farmers and the agriculture department can do wonders by re-inventing agriculture with the government policy support mechanism. He suggested for diversification of crops rather than concentrating on just wheat and paddy.

He told the young farmers, who had gathered here from all over the state, about new thrust areas identified by PAU and the research process to be pursued with the special grant of Rs 100 crore received from the Union government. A project report on the utilization of this money has been submitted to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),he added.

Giving broad outlines of the road-map drawn by the University he said biotechnoloy, value addition, food processing, protection of natural resources like water, soil environment and innovative farm mechanization were some of the broad areas to work on.

Dr Dhillon said it is the Punjab farmers who will have to think for themselves as ''producers and consumers'' and also improve their own housekeeping rather than looking towards the government in Delhi.

Dr Dhillon said PAU acknowledged that farmers are ''innovators and practitioners'' of recommended package of practices and ''we learn many things from them". Therefore, farmers should not hesitate to experiment and send the feedback to PAU for further research, he added.

He assured the farmers that the University was working on a number of crop varieties and hybrids but this will take time. Hence, it is better to go in for scientific agriculture rather than blindly investing and wasting on costly inputs while returns at times remain low, he added.

Director of Extension Education, Dr S S Gill while addressing the farmers called upon the members of the Scientific Farmers Club to act as ambassadors of the University and also as catalysts of change.

PAU Vice Chancellor Dr K S Aulukh in his message said the Club should keep the state Department of Agriculture informed of their difficulties.

Member of the Agriculture Costs and Prices Commission, Mr Mohinder Singh Grewal in his remarks said seed production wing will be carved out soon of the Scientific Farmers' Club to produce seed for mass sale and consumption. He appealed to the farmers to give up their pretentious attitude and ostentatious life style and not invest blindly in buying tractors and other machinery where it can be hired for farm operations.

Mr Grewal hoped the club members would create awareness and educate fellow farmers to plan and manage their farm accounts and perform timely operations for remunerative returns.

The key persons involved in pursuing the cause of farmers through the Scientific Farmers' Club are PAU Kisan Club President Pavittarpal Singh Pangali and General Secretary Hardev Singh Ghanau were honoured on the occasion for their contribution towards the Club.

UNI