Samana/Patiala, May 17 - The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Patiala, organized a district level farmer training camp at Samana to provide technical information to the farmers regarding the harvest of 2024 crops. The camp was inaugurated by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Patiala Dr. Harjinder Singh Bedi IAS and felicitated 29 progressive farmers of the district.
The chief guest of this camp, Director Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Eng. Jaswant Singh, appealed to about 800 farmers present, expressing concern over the falling level of underground water. That farmers should prefer less time consuming recommended varieties of paddy and Basmati during monsoon season to conserve ground water. He said that the Punjab government has banned the sale and sowing of Pusa-44 seed. Which takes more time and more water and contributes significantly to the pollution caused by stubble burning. He said that approximately 1 meter underground water is decreasing every year Due to which the coming generations may face the crisis of drinking and arable water in Punjab.
Chief Agriculture Officer Patiala Dr. Jaswinder Singh appealed to the present farmers to take advantage of the various schemes being run by the Agriculture Department and encouraged them to save fertilizers by conducting maximum soil and water sample tests. Dr. Gurupdesh Kaur, Deputy Director of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Rauni gave detailed information to the farmers about various trainings under crop diversification.
Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, in-charge of Farmer Advisory Center Patiala, shared various technical points to increase income to farmers by reducing expenses and gave information about seeds of less time consuming varieties. Dr. Hardeep Singh Subhikhi, a plant protection expert of KVK Rouni, gave technical information to the farmers regarding seed modification and disease prevention.