Seminar for farm engineers begins
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 25
A two-day seminar on ‘Role of Mechanisation in Indian Agriculture’, organised by the Department of Farm, Power and Machinery, Punjab Agricultural University, in collaboration with the Institute of Engineers, was inaugurated at Jacob Hall of the PAU here today.

Over 150 engineers from various parts of the country are participating in the seminar. Inaugurating the seminar, Mr Amarjit Singh Samra, Minister of State for Agriculture and Revenue, said there was a need to promote agro-processing industry and farm mechanisation in order to meet the emerging challenges due to globalisation. He said organisations like Punjab Agro Industries Corporation and Markfed could play a major role in promoting joint ventures in these areas to help Punjab farmers export their agricultural produce.

Dr S.R. Verma, former Dean (College of Agricultural Engineering), PAU, discussed the problems of declining soil fertility, receding water table, unplanned use of resources, low quality of produce, higher cost of production, lack of marketing intelligence, poor post-harvest technology, staggering losses of perishable fruits and vegetables, low exports, slow adoption of advanced technologies in tissue culture, bio-pesticides, bio-technology and information technology, inadequacy of energy for production and non-conformance to global quality assurance and management norms.

To overcome the problems, Dr Verma said, the farmers should adopt conservation farming, besides diversification and use of latest post-harvest and food processing technologies. He said farm engineers need to develop efficient machines for cultivation of cotton, sugarcane, oil seeds, pulses, vegetables and fruits, besides strengthening research in the area of tractor design, fuel efficiency, safety, comfort, exhaust emissions and alternate fuels for tractors.

An exhibition of latest farm equipment developed by the university such as rotavator, multi-crop planter, strip till drill, paddy transplanter, high clearance sprayer, reapers, threshers and other machines was also organised. Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, lauded the role of the farm engineers for enhancing crop intensity.

BCM college convocation 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 25
“Higher Education is the basic investment for development of any country. The government has to pay attention to higher education and cannot wash its hands off it by saying it has no funds,” said Professor Ramesh Kumar, Dean, CDC, Panjab University, Chandigarh, in his address to 120 students who received B.Ed degrees this morning at the BCM College of Education. Professor Kumar said that our evaluation system has to change. The teachers will have to accept the evaluation done by students and it will be made an integral part of education.

He advised the authorities to get their college to apply for accreditation, as NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council), an independent body, is grading colleges. All colleges have to be accredited by December, 2003, he said. Congratulating all 120 students of the college for getting first class, he said it was more important for them to display first class human behaviour also. Higher education is greatly subsidised and only serious students should go for it.

Harpreet Kaur and Jyoti Prashar stood first, while Parveen Sharma was declared second in the examination. Cheena Sanmotra was declared third. Forty three students received prizes for excellence in one subject or other. Mr Om Parkash Munjal presided over the function.

58 trainees get diplomas
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 25
Thirty computer diploma students and 28 trainees in telecommunication course received diplomas at a valedictory function of the Vocational Rehabilitation Training Centre for Blind and Disabled (VRTC), here today. The function was held in the auditorium of the institute.

These courses are sponsored by the Central Social Welfare Board, Government of India. The institute is recognised by the Government of India, Government of Punjab, the Central Social Welfare Board and many national and international agencies. Students from UP and HP also come her for getting training which is provided free of cost. Hostel facility is also available. The Director of the institute, Dr E. M. Johnson, himself a visually challenged man, has steered the institute since its inception in 1964. Since then 13,600 visually challenged and disabled people have been rehabilitated.

A number of trainees of this institute were now working as receptionists and programmers and some of them had started cyber cafes.

Prof H. S. Sekhon, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering, presided over the function. Mr Som Parkash, Director, Directorate of Social Security Women and Child Development, Government of India, gave away diplomas to the trainees.