AGRICULTURE

PAU cautions farmers against micronutrients
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 8
Punjab Agricultural University soil scientists today cautioned farmers against the use of ‘‘multi- micronutrient mixtures’’ to enhance productivity. Reports reaching PAU suggest that some unscrupulous elements, particularly in south-western districts, were coaxing farmers to buy these mixtures for use as soil applicants to overcome the deficiency of zinc, manganese and iron to meet the needs of the crops.

The Head of the Department of Soils, Dr V.Beri, and Senior Soil Chemist Dr I.M Chhibba who have received written complaints from farmers in the Kotkapura area, said, ‘‘simultaneous occurrence of the deficiency of the three micronutrients zinc, manganese and iron does not exist in Punjab. Moreover, soil application of these mixtures is of zero value. Only foliage application is recommended for the efficient utilisation of these mixtures. As such, the use of the so called nutrient mixtures is totally against the present thrust of enhancing fertiliser use efficiency’’.

The Director of Extension Education, Dr S.S Gill, who has received several complaints from the farmers and feedback from Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the state had forwarded these to the Soils Department.

The farmers thus have been advised to use only the right fertiliser to meet with deficient micronutrients which can be confirmed only by getting the soil tested. As such, zinc should be applied through either heptahydrate zinc sulphate (containing 21.5 per cent zinc) or monohydrate zinc sulphate (containing 33 per cent zinc). On the other hand, iron and manganese deficiency in the crops can at best be corrected through foliar application by using iron sulphate and manganese sulphate solution. Dr Beri, Dr Chhibba and Dr Gill stressed ‘‘obviously, there is no need to go in for micronutrient mixtures and waste money’’.

Meanwhile, PAU agro meteorologists, who predict dry weather in the next two to three days have issued crop tips for the farmers. On paddy, the agro meteorologists have said that if in the light texture soils paddy nursery shows iron deficiency, which makes them look yellowish white, and slows the growth of plants, as a remedy, the farmers should spray the crops with 1 per cent ferrous sulphate.

The farmers who grow Basmati have been advised to complete nursery sowing for Pusa Basmati No1, Super Basmati and Pusa Sugandh-2 in the first fortnight of June. For the cotton growers, scientists have advised the farmers to avoid sowing cotton in this month and follow clean cultivation, destroy the weed ‘‘kanghi buti’’ and ‘‘peeli buti’’ and spray appropriate plant protection chemicals if jassid incidence is noticed. It is also the right time to sow maize. The farmers would do well to sow only the varieties/hybrids recommended by the PAU. 

PAU organises field pulses day at Gagra
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 8
To popularise the cultivation of pulses, a field day on summer moongbean was held at Gagra village near hre today. The Director of Extension Education, Dr.S.S.Gill, who inaugurated the field day pointed out that each village in the state could become self sufficient in pulses if the farmers were to adopt the recommended package of practices for sowing of pulses.

Giving facts and figures, he said, there was a gap between demand and supply of pulses in villages. The per capita per day requirement of pulses in villages is about 53 grams. Punjab has over 12,000 villages and on an average per village requirement of pulses is around 28 tonnes. If people were to bring about 70 acre per village under pulses and market these within the villages, they would save on money.

Instead of selling pulses at a cheap rate in the open market and then buying them back at a higher price, the farmers should form "self help marketing groups" to meet their kitchen requirements. With such an approach, the villagers, who are 66 per cent of the state's total population of 2.65 crore, can transform their economics and incomes because pulses are a good alternative to paddy.

In fact, Dr. Gill said, India spends about Rs.12,000 crore to Rs.14,000 crore annually, in importing pulses and oil seeds. The government has now been made aware by the university to encourage cultivation of pulses and also oil seeds. A pulses marketing study has also been commissioned by State Farmers' Commission.

The field day was organised by the Department of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology. Among the speakers and scientists who attended was Director of Regional Centre of South Asia (Hyderabad) of the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre (Taiwan) Dr.M.L.Chadha . He called for focussed research on pulses which can eventually be an economic alternative to rice. He appreciated the concerns of PAU in promoting pulses, including mash, arhar, ricebean and soybean, besides, of course, the 'moong'. 

From Schools
Seminar on innovations in science 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 8
A seminar was organised at Bhartiya Vidya Mandir here yesterday. Mr Varindra Sharma, District Science Supervisor, conducted the seminar on “Innovations in science and the role of teachers”.

He emphasised on the fact that science could be taught with inexpensive or used materials also and efficiently demonstrated it. He was effective in motivating the teachers to the cause of teaching. He interacted with teachers and solved their queries meticulously.

‘Fruit Day’ celebrated: Students of Spring Dale Senior Secondary Public School celebrated “Fruit Day” on Thursday. The purpose of celebrating “Fruit Day” was to make the children aware of the nutritious values of the fruits through fun and frolic. Different types of fruits and salads were provided by the school management.

Attired in fruits caps, students spoke about the values of various fruits.

Summer workshop: The 15-day workshop that started on May 22 ended on Thursday in Ryan International School with a programme for parents.

The programme included an art exhibition in which handmade craft items prepared by students displayed. Students also performed western and Punjabi dances.

A multimedia presentation by children based on their “vision and mission” was remarkable.

A workshop of kick boxing and self-defence was a rewarding experience in itself. It was captivating to see children putting in their efforts.

From Colleges
City students excel in B.Com (III) exam
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 8
Students of B.Com (III) of Satish Chander Dhawan Government College have excelled in the Panjab University annual examination. The aggregate result of the college is 98 per cent.

Vaibhav Sehgal got the first position in the college by securing 80 per cent marks, while Sambhav Jain stood second with 79 per cent marks and Manhar Sood third with 77 per cent marks.

Prof R.K. Miglani, head of the postgraduate department of commerce, said this year 72 students secured first division.

DD Jain College: The Devki Devi Jain Memorial College for Women has achieved good result in B.Com (III) of Panjab University.

Ankita Jain stood first in the college by securing 79 per cent marks, while Rajni Kapoor stood second and Megha Malik stood third with 75 per cent marks.

The pass percentage of the college is 100 per cent and 54 of the 66 students got first position.

Guru Nanak Girls College: Students of B.Com III of Guru Nanak Girls College performed well in the Panjab University examination.

Harmeet Kaur stood first in the college by securing 82 per cent marks.

Jaswinder Kaur stood second by securing 77 per cent marks and Jagdeep Kaur stood third by securing 75 per cent marks.

As many as 41 of the 72 students bagged first division.

SDP College: Students of B.Com (III) of the SDP College for Women performed well in the Panjab University examination by obtaining 100 per cent result.

Aditi Jain stood first with 73 per cent marks, while Deepika and Swati stood second with 68 per cent marks.

Khalsa College for Women: Students of B.Com (III) of the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Model Town, brought laurels to the college. As many as 84 students got first division. Bhavneet Kaur got 78 per cent marks and stood first in the college. Ramandeep Kaur scored 76 per cent marks, while Ishneet Kaur with 76 per cent marks came third.

Gobindgarh Public College: Students of B.Com (III) of Gobindgarh Public College excelled in the Panjab University examination.

Narinder Pal Shahi stood first by securing 71 per cent marks, whereas Samita Singla stood second with 71 per cent marks and Puneet Goyal third with 71 per cent marks.

The college bagged 30 first divisions and 17 students passed with more than 65 per cent marks. The overall pass percentage of the college is 96 per cent.

Kamla Lohtia College: Students of B Com (III) of Kamla Lohtia SD College have brought laurels to the college by excelling in the examination. The overall pass percentage of the college is 100 per cent.

Dinesh Kapoor got first position in the college by securing 83 per cent marks, while Sunny Arora stood second with 76 per cent marks and Anish Kapoor third with 76. per cent marks.

New Principal takes charge
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 8
Dr Balbir Singh has joined as Principal of Guru Teg Bahadur National College Dakha. He was Head of the Department of Mathematics at G.H.G.Khalsa College, Guru Sar Sudhar. 

SPORTS

Soccer fever fails to grip Ludhianvis
Anil Datt

Ludhiana, June 8
Even as the soccer fever is evident throughout the globe, the enthusiasm among Ludhianvis has been missing. People here are indifferent to the game of football, the most popular sport in the world, as compared to cricket.

The FIFA World Cup-2006 is slated to kick off in Germany tomorrow. This reporter talked to a cross section of residents and found that there was no excitement about the mega event. As a matter of fact, the majority of the people do not know where this sports extravaganza is to be held. They are interested only in the Indian cricket team which is currently touring West Indies. Despite the fact that the team lost the one-day series against the hosts, people still remain glued to the television sets to watch their favourite cricketers in action.

Do you know where the world soccer meet is going to be held from tomorrow? No, I do not know anything about the world cup. I have no interest in football. This is how a plus two student replied to my queries when I tried to ask about his interest in the game.

In this part of the country, people have no love for football and the game of cricket is popular among them. Probably, the bookies may be aware of the schedule of the world’s super sport.

It is learnt that high betting is being made for this tournament and bets are for superstars and for the number of goals. Brazil is understood to be the favourite among the bookies.

Even during a round of the market, it was revealed that there was no enthusiasm and interest in buying electronic goods like TVs. Some of the TV manufacturing companies have introduced schemes and packages to attract the customers and to mark the beginning of the meet.

According to electronic goods dealers, there is a lukewarm response from the public as far as the sale of television sets is concerned.

Some companies have come out with novelty items such as pens, pencil boxes, school bags, caps and also T-shirts and shoes with the FIFA World Cup logo on them. Although these items are not very costly yet there are few buyers. The sales may witness some increase once the championship gets underway.

Owners of some of the local hotels and restaurants have also chalked out programmes to install big screens at their places to attract clients to watch and enjoy the biggest sports extravaganza on the earth.

At one time, JCT Mills of Phagwara, the Punjab Police and the BSF were the premier soccer outfits of the country. And Punjab had produced some stalwarts like Jarnail Singh, Inder Singh, Gurdev Singh, Parminder Singh and Kulwinder Singh.

But now football game is just “out of fashion” in Punjab. It has gone into oblivion. One seldom finds school or college students playing football. They prefer playing 
other games particularly cricket.

City student wins laurels in skating
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, June 8
Jodh Singh, a student of the Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology, Gujarkhan campus, Model Town, Ludhiana, has won two silver medals in the Laurie Hastie Skating Cup Meet held in New Zealand.

According to the Director of the institute, Jodh Singh grabbed silver medals in the 400m and 800m races. All skating clubs of New Zealand participated in this two-day championship held on May 13 and 14.

Earlier, Jodh Singh represented India in the 2005 World Speed Skating Championship held in China and also took part in the National Skating Meet conducted in Kolkata in 2000.