Ludhiana, April 1
“Even though the state government is emphasising on diversification of agriculture and trying its level best to get farmers out of the wheat-paddy cycle, it should not forget that wheat is the most important crop of Punjab and the need of the hour is to maintain its lead in production of quality wheat besides sustaining farm income and stability.”
This was stated by Dr B.S. Ahloowalia, a scientist from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria, who is at present a Visiting Professor at the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, while talking to TNS here today. The Professor is on a 20-day visit to the university and is giving lectures to students on the recent techniques of biotechnology.
While advocating the setting up of a wheat resource centre at the PAU, Dr Ahloowalia said the university should lay emphasis on improving the quality of wheat and develop various varieties so that the wheat produced by the farmers of the state could be utilised for making various breads, including chapatti, paratha, naan, kulcha, and at the same time could be sold in the international market for the preparation of French bread, baked bread, biscuits, noodles and pasta.
An alumnus of Punjab Agriculture College, which was later converted into the PAU, Dr Ahloowalia is deeply attached to the farmers of the state, who, according to him, need to be provided a right direction. During his visit to the city, he plans to do something for the farmers as well as the students of the PAU studying genetics and biotechnology.
Stating that the PAU had done a yeoman job in helping the farmers of the state over the years, Dr Ahloowalia said the government should provide Rs 1 crore as a one-time grant to the university for buildings, furniture and upgradation of basic equipment on wheat research.
He said he would write to the government soon and urge upon the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to bale out the wheat farmers out of the present crisis.
“To sustain the productivity and break the present yield barrier, it is essential to undertake multi-disciplinary and goal-oriented research on this crop. This is only possible if the work on this crop is streamlined and a resource centre is set up. The proposed centre should carry out research on agronomy breeding, pathology, physiology, seed production, grain milling and baking quality using conventional and modern technologies of molecular genetics,” said Dr Ahloowalia.
According to him once kick-started, the centre would become self-sustaining besides generating funds from the sale of breeder seeds etc. “The establishment of the resource centre will secure the future of wheat production in the state in a sustainable manner. It would give the farmers the much-needed confidence in export-oriented, high quality wheat production that, in turn, should lead to higher farm incomes, increased rural employment and stability in the
state.
