PAU to felicitate progressive agriculturists at Kisan Mela

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 18

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) will honour progressive farmers on the first day of Kisan Mela on September 20 for excellence in agriculture and allied occupations.

Bir Dalwinder Singh, a resident of Kalar Majari village, Patiala, will be conferred with “S Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award 2018” for carving a niche in agriculture. An MTech in computer science, Singh is practising farming on 18 acres. Giving up the traditional paddy-wheat cycle, he is cultivating wheat, paddy, potato, moong and sunflower crops successfully and getting good economic returns.

Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Patti Sadeek village, Abohar, will also be given “S Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award 2018” for excellence in agriculture. After completing MA, BEd, he adopted agriculture as a profession and is presently carrying out farm operations on 30 acres. He grows wheat, chickpea and mustard in addition to kinnow on 10 acres. The adoption of subsidiary occupations such as dairy and fish farming is giving him a monetary benefit of Rs 1 lakh.

Narpinder Singh, a resident of Chuharchak village, Moga, will be conferred with “S Surjit Singh Dhillon Award 2018” for scaling new heights in farming. He has been into the cultivation of turmeric, sugarcane, wheat and vegetables on one acre of land for the last 25 years. He contributes to the protection of environment by growing crops without using agro chemicals. He has adopted subsidiary occupations such as beekeeping, mushroom cultivation and dairy farming.

Harinder Singh Riar, a resident of Bhamri village, Gurdaspur, will be honoured with “Parvasi Bharti Award 2018” for making strides in agriculture through diversification. A 32-year-old graduate, Riar carries out farm operations on 80 acres of land. Apart from practising intercropping of wheat-sugarcane, he also grows sugarcane, paddy, chickpea, lentil, sweet potato, etc.

Rajinder Kaur, a resident of Chatta Nanhera village, Sangrur, will be given “State Awardee Sardarni Jagbir Kaur Memorial Award 2018” for earning recognition in allied agri-enterprises. She has set up a unit on 2.5 acres where she grows diverse crops and has adopted beekeeping and processing of agricultural produce.

Meanwhile, PAU will confer the “Governor Excellent Village Award” upon Chatta Nanhera village, Sangrur. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kheri, Sangrur, adopted this village in February 2016. Keeping in view its problems, training programmes, kisan goshtis, Khet Divas, awareness campaigns and health camps were organised. A resolution was passed by the village panchayat that no farmer would indulge in stubble-burning. In addition, congress grass was eradicated and kitchen garden concept was promoted for health benefits. Farmers of the village ventured into auxiliary occupations such as beekeeping, poultry farming, etc. after receiving training from KVK.

The awardees 

• Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award 2018 — Bir Dalwinder Singh, a resident of Kalar Majari village, Patiala
• Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award 2018 — Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Patti Sadeek village, Abohar
• Surjit Singh Dhillon Award 2018 — Narpinder Singh, a resident of Chuharchak village, Moga
• Parvasi Bharti Award 2018 — Harinder Singh Riar, a resident of Bhamri village, Gurdaspur
• State Awardee Sardarni Jagbir Kaur Memorial Award 2018 — Rajinder Kaur, a resident of Chatta Nanhera village, Sangrur