Milk processing at farmers’ doorstep
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 4
In its continuing drive to make dairying a viable option for diversification of agriculture, the Punjab Government today announced a radical overhaul of the course content of dairy training programmes in the state.

Inaugurating a dairy training programme at the Bija dairy farming complex today, the Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries Minister, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, disclosed that the department had decided to revise the existing stereotyped content of dairy training and make it more market-driven and relevant to farmers in the context of today’s emerging economy. Consequently, farmers would be taught to scientifically process and convert milk into simple dairy products like paneer, khoya, dahi, etc. for which they could find a ready market to their own village or even neighbouring villages, Mr Kang added.

The minister disclosed that farmers would be given training in techniques of preservation of green fodder through conversion into hay and silage. Fodder is a critical input for improving milk productivity.

Mr Kang emphasised that special focus would be on women who are by nature best equipped to the task of milk processing and who could supplement the income of the household. The milk processing at the village level would commence immediately in the villages selected under the “Adarsh padhudhan gram” programme.

Mr D.S. Jaspal, Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries, disclosed that the dairy training centres of the department at Bija (Ludhiana), Tarn Taran (Amritsar), Sardulgarh (Mansa) and Phagwara (Kapurthala) would now concentrate on providing training with emphasis on proper feeding scientific housing milk processing and, most importantly on milk marketing. Punjab would be the first state in the country to familiarise farmers with the basic rules of the market economy so that they are able to face its challenge in the coming years, he added.

Mr Jaspal elaborated that that a dairy farmer could daily earn up to Rs 500 more by converting 100 litres of milk into indigenous produce like dahi, paneer, lassi, etc. by using improvised techniques than to sell the same in the fluid form at cheaper rates.

Mr Paramjit Singh, Director, Dairy Development Department, disclosed that 240 dairy farmers shall be trained at the training centre at Bija. He added that this would be a pilot project and its scope shall be widened in due course, depending on the success of the project.

National workshop on human engineering and safety begins
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 4
“Aspects like safety and comfort of the operator must be given prime attention since farm machines involving drudgery are not accepted by the people. The machines should also be environment friendly,” said Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, while addressing delegates at the inaugural function of the two-day workshop on the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s (ICAR) all-India coordinated research project on “human engineering and safety in agriculture”, here today.

Dr Aulakh highlighted the role of the PAU in the field of agricultural mechanisation in raising agricultural production and productivity and reducing the cost of cultivation. He appreciated and recalled the role of agricultural engineers at the PAU for doing pioneering work in designing the safe feeding chute in the late seventies which resulted in enactment of parliament law, Dangerous Machines (Regulation) Act, 1983.

Adoption of these standards have resulted in reduction in thresher accidents to the bare minimum. He mentioned that the frequency of accidents for self-propelled machines, tractors, threshers, chaff-cutter, sprayers and cane-crushers in Punjab has reduced considerably because of better awareness and training imparted to the users. At present it is only 0.74 accidents per thousand machine per year as against more than two accidents per 1000 machines at the national level.

He stressed that the tractor industry should reduce the noise level in tractors to less than 90 decibals which is above 95 decibals now. Similarly, tractor seat vibrations are causing serious health problems like backache, stomach, neck, hand and eye problems. About 88 per cent of the operators reportedly suffer stomach problem due to vibrations.

Dr Aulakh said harvesting combines are found to have respirable suspended particles (RSP) in the range of 1,333 to 2,390 micrograms per meter cube as against safe, alarming and dangerous levels of 250, 500 and 1000 micrograms, respectively. He advised the researchers to take this factors into consideration, while improving work efficiency, productivity and safety and reduction in cost of production at the farm.

Dr Anwar Alam, Deputy Director General (Engg), ICAR, in his presidential remarks mentioned that food production in the country has increased beyond 200 million tonnes. Farm mechanisation is a very important and crucial component in this process. It would be relevant to understand the role of human engineering without which the man- machine system will result in lower machine efficiency, more fatigue and increased number of farm accidents. He mentioned that agriculture mechanisation is rapidly penetrating into eastern, western and southern regions of the country. Dr Alam further said that the safety of the operator starts right from the designers’ table because any minor fault in the design of machine cause serious hazards accidents.

Dr G.S. Nanda, Director, Research, PAU, highlighted the role of farm machanisation in the state in providing self sufficiency to the production of foodgrain, milk, fisheries, honey and others. He said the principle underlying human engineering concepts includes increasing work efficiency, safety and productivity at the same time decreasing accidents, time requirements and making the work environment comfortable and easy.

He mentioned that every day one hears about accidents caused by the tractors due to the overloaded tractor-trailer filled with sugarcane, straw or other crop produce. Those accidents can be avoided using roll-over protection structures (ROPS) which are mandatory in countries like the USA. A large number of accidents also take place while using sprayers and electric motors. The state government through the state marketing board extends monetary help victims to the tune of Rs 75, 000 in te case of death or permanent disability.

Human engineers can foresee such situations and can provide preventive features to minimise these accidents because human life is very precious. More than 200 million workers are engaged in agriculture and allied activities in the country and ergonomics can play a major role to increasing work efficiency and productivity these workers without jeopardising their health and safety, he pointed out.

Dr N.S.L. Srivastava, Assistant Director General (Engg), ICAR, while talking about the role of all-India coordinated research project on human engineering and safety in agriculture, said that the mandate of the project is to create databases on ergonomical parameters of Indian agricultural workers and to develop on adapt the equipment on technology on work system for increasing production, reducing drudgery and minimising the accidents in agricultural and allied activities through application of ergonomics.

Annual celebrations of GGSSC
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 4
A school band of young students of Guru Nanak International Public School played melodious tunes to welcome people from Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttranchal, Jammu and Kashmir, and the United Kingdom, who had come to participate in the 30th annual celebrations organised by Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle at their centre at Model Town Extension this morning.

After hoisting the Nishan sahib’ the function was inaugurated by Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, president Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) After the opening ceremony which included a march by the ‘Panj Piaras’, all the delegates present on the occasion vowed to fight against drug menace and promised to work towards a balanced society.

The first session was presided over by Bibi Kiran jit Kaur, general secretary of the SGPC. Mr. Raja Singh of Texla T.V. was the chief guest and he appreciated the work done by the study circle, and advised them to switch over to modern technology. Prof. Prithipal Singh Kapoor, ex-vice Chancellor of the GND varsity, said that Sikh principles had originated from Sikh history.The teachings of Gurbani were needed in this age and should be adhered to. He further said that through the contribution of Sikhs , Punjab has prospered. Banda Bahadur had asked the rich farmers to give away some portion of their land to the poor and that started the chapter of prosperity.

Bibi Kiranjit Kaur said that soon a ‘kirtan jatha’ of women would be reciting kirtan from Darbar Sahib. Mr. ManMohan Singh Sailani from Raipur, Chattisgarh thanked the delegates.

NCC training must for students: war hero
Our Correspondent

Doraha, October 4
Col. R.P.S. Dhillon, a recipient of the Yudh Seva medal, addressed a camp of 19 Punjab Battalion NCC, Ludhiana, here yesterday.

Addressing the NCC cadets on the occasion, Colonel Dhillon said the aim of the NCC was to develop the personality of an individual. “In order to inculcate the feelings of brotherhood and good citizenship, NCC training is a must. The experience of attending NCC camps helped one in leading a disciplined life and developing a healthy outlook, he said.

“The Sikh regiment is on the top in receiving the gallantry awards. The first Sikh battalion is placed at number one, while the 15th Punjab Battalion is at number two. This way, Punjabis have proved their mettle. They have the strength, courage and poise to face the toughest of situations,” Colonel Dhillon asserted.

ANOs present on the occasion included Capt Mangat Singh, Lieut Nirmal Singh, Lieut Ravinder Singh, Second Lieut Rachpal Singh, Second Lieut Sukhdev Singh Grewal, Second Lieut Gurmeet Singh, Prof Sukhwinder Singh Virk, Subedar Major Charan Singh and Lieut Col Hari Gurung, the Camp Commandant.

Colonel Dhillon expressed concern about the safety of the cadets.

The NCC camp, organised by 19 Punjab Battalion NCC, Ludhiana, will be of 12 days’ duration for the senior division and 10 days for the junior division. The cadets participating are from various schools and colleges of Ludhiana, Doraha, Malerkotla , Payal, Karamsar, Ferozepur and Abohar. There are over 450 officers, ANOs and cadets participating in the camp. The camp is being run under the supervision of Lieut-Col Hari Gurung, Camp Commandant, assisted by Major A.K. Puri, Deputy Camp Commandant and a team of associate NCC officers of various schools and colleges, apart from Army staff.

During his address, Lieut-Col Hari Gurung advised the cadets to follow the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi as also to learn discipline and the military way of life during their stay at the camp. He added that the main aim of the camp was to inculcate healthy competitive spirit among the cadets.