AGRICULTURE

Zero-tilling technique to be promoted
Amarjit Thind
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 3
To impress upon farmers to conserve water and essential soil nutrients, the Agriculture Department will promote the zero-tilling technique in the district and more villages in each block will be brought under the scheme.

The department has already organised 11 farmer awareness camps in this context. Officials are of the view that farmers are reluctant to give up old and traditional methods of sowing. However, they are now becoming increasingly aware that with the help of new techniques, production costs can be brought down.

Sources said hundreds of acres will be sown using the technology this rabi season. As many as 18 zero-tilling drills and four raised bed planters will be used on two-acre demonstration plots for the benefit of these farmers who wish to test the effectiveness of the technique. The farmers who opt for the technique will be reimbursed 50 per cent of the seed sown on such plots.

Moreover, one village in each block, where at least 50 per cent of the land is sown using the new technique, will become a zero tillage friendly village. Presently, 22,000 hectares are being tilled using this technique to the satisfaction of the farmers.

The sources said the department was also concentrating on furthering the acreage under the diversification drive of the state government. In this context, 1,100 mini kits of mustard seed of 2 kg each, 200 mini kits of gram of 8 kg each and 100 mini kits of masar of 4 kg each will be distributed free of cost among the farmers. Similarly, 2,500 quintals of wheat (PBW variety) has been given to the farmers at a subsidised cost.

Good quality seed, pesticides and insecticides too will be provided to the farmers. The department had taken 235 samples of seeds out of which 10 samples failed. Similarly, of the 228 samples of insecticides taken, 15 samples failed. Action has been initiated against the dealers whose samples have failed, the sources pointed out.

The farmers too have approached their field laboratories to test soil quality so that they optimise the use of farm inputs. The officials are also urging the farmers to adopt other allied occupations and go in for oilseed production to augment their income.

MP grants Rs 25 lakh for Atam memorial
Our Correspondent

Students of the school pose excitedly before the start of the cultural programme. — A Tribune photograph

Seminar on health and home science
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 3
The Home Science Department of Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Model Town, Ludhiana organised a seminar on “Health and Home Science Education” today. The seminar was held in two sessions . The morning session was on physical health in which Dr S.K. Mann, Dean, College of Home Science, PAU, and Dr Y.S. Walia were invited. Dr L.S. Chawla, former VC of Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences, Faridkot was the chief guest.

The evening session was on mental health. Dr Anoop Kaur Bansal, Principal of the college, welcomed the speakers. Dr Mann stressed on the role of home science and importance of balanced diet in the life of adolescents and young adults. Dr Y.S. Walia motivated the students to have a clear vision of good health and education. Dr Chawla focused on human development and emphasised on female education in order to eradicate various social evils. Dr Rajiv Gupta suggested various ways to overcome physical and emotional stresses.

As a prelude to the seminar a study was conducted last month on the college campus. The health status of 250 subjects selected for the purpose was judged on the basis of height, weight, baby mass index and haemoglobin (Hb) level. It was found that only 5 per cent girls had haemoglobin level more than 12g/100 ml of blood.

On the basis of BMI classification, 50 per cent of the subjects were found to be either undernourished or obese. The reasons for this were the ignorance of students regarding the importance of balanced diet, faulty food habits, mental and emotional stresses.

Students excel at Young Artist Camp
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 3
The Department of Fine Arts, Guru Nanak Girls College, Model Town, here, organised a Young Artist Camp here today. It was inaugurated by the Principal, Dr Charanjit Mahal. She welcomed the guest artist, Jodh Singh, who is a winner of National Lalit Akademi Award and hails from Chandigarh.

Students from different institution participated in the camp. Jodh Singh gave demonstration on collage making and drawing.

The following are the students won prizes:

Cartooning — Raghvan, DAV School, Dilpreet Kaur, Guru Nanak Public School, Kirandeep Kaur (first); Nisha, BCM School, Manjot Kaur, BCM Arya School, and Jagdeep Kaur, Harkrishan Public School (second); Harleen Kaur, Sacred Heart Public School, and Balbir Kaur, Guru Nanak Public School (third).

Poster — Bhavin and Arun Kumar, DAV School, and Gurpinder Kaur, Guru Nanak Public School (first); Ankita Sood, DAV School, and Deepinder Kaur, Sacred Heart Public School (second); and Annapoorna and Ramneet Kaur, Guru Nanak Public School, and Harsukham Chadha, Harkrishan Public School (third).

Collage — Richa Birla and Apurva, DAV School (first); Amanpreet Kaur and Richa Kapoor, Guru Nanak Public School (second).

Composition — Parag, DAV School, Jashanjeet, BCM Arya School (first); Chirag, DAV School, Jasleen Kaur, Sacred Heart Public School (second); and Deepali, DAV School, Ritica Thapar, BCM (third).

The Principal gave away the prizes. Mrs Manjit Randhawa, Head, Department of Fine Arts thanked Jodh Singh and participants.

Daljit tops in rangoli competition
Our Correspondent

Doraha, November 3
The Commerce and Economics Association of GNN College, Doraha organised a rangoli competition, today. Students worked on various designs using varied colour combinations and contrasting features.

Daljit Kaur, Ricky Bector and Lakhvir Kaur, all BA II students stood first, second and third respectively. Gagandeep Kaur and Mandeep Kaur of plus I were awarded consolation prizes. The judges of the rangoli competition were Prof Gursharan Kaur, Prof Amarjit Kaur and Prof Mohinder Kaur.

A seminar on the topic “Accounting for Financial Derivatives” was organised by the association in which 60 students participated and expressed their views on the topic. Prof Pawan Taneja spoke on the topic and answered the queries of the students. Prof Jagdev Singh Grewal, Head of the Postgraduate Department, was the guest of the honour.

Students hold peace march
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 3
With the aim of conveying the message of peace among the residents, students of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, BRS Nagar, held a march here today. The students assembled in the school lawn holding placards. One of these read: “Let there be peace on the earth and let it begin with me”.

The march was flagged off by the Director of school, Father Davis, and the Principal, Sister Sobel.

Punjabi Sahit Sabha honours two
Our Correspondent

Amloh, November 3
The annual function of Punjabi Sahit Sabha was organised at Government Secondary School, Amloh on Sunday. Mr Surjan Singh Mehmi, Manager, State Bank of Patiala, was the chief guest and Mr Tejwant Singh, presided over the function. Mrs Rajinder Kaur Vanta, a writer, and Mr Labh Singh Chitamaliwala, a singer, were honoured on the occasion. The function was inaugurated by Dr Paramjit Singh Dhaliwal.

Surjit Singh Marjara, Ramnath Shukla, Iqbal Singh, former Deputy Registrar, Punjabi University, Dharampal Anwar, Daljit Sharma, Mahima Singh Arshi, Rajinder Shaunki, Kailash Amlohi, Om Parkash Karkara, Avtar Azaad, Harpal Bhatti, Rajinder Toki, Gurnaam Bijli, Gurdev Singh, former DEO, Sangrur, Sukhchain Jajjua, Kashmiri Lal Khurana, Surjit Seet and Sher Singh Shamshpuri presented their writings, poems and ghazals.