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Don’t take unwanted loans, farmers told
Ludhiana, October 5 “Wherever farmers are under huge debt, this is because of the fact that such farmers do not have capacity to repay the loan or they misused the loan money and spent it lavishly on social functions other than using it for the intended purpose,” added Dr Gill. Dr Gill impressed upon the farmers to follow the university’s package of practices and adhere to recommended time schedule and doses of seed, fertilizer and plant protection chemicals for optimum results. A seminar on Crops was also organised on the occasion in association with the panchayat and the Shaheed Jaspal Singh Memorial Club, Dhaula. A PAU award-winner progressive dairy farmer, Mr Avtar Singh Rataul, shared his experiences with the farmers and invited them to his dairy farm. The Sangrur Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Mr Hardev Singh, appreciated the efforts of the Club for organising the field day. He said as long as farmers and PAU scientists worked hand-in-hand, agriculture would flourish. Several technical experts from PAU also addressed the farmers.
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Concept paper ‘vital’ to utilise Rs 100-cr grant for PAU
Ludhiana, October 5 Talking to PAU scientists in the campus, Dr Bajwa said the concept paper would have to be based on strength, weakness, opportunity and threat (SWOT) analysis to determine what course it should adopt now that it was about to receive Rs 100 crore special grant. There was an urgent need to converge all available resources and equipment, he added. He said the scientists working in 28 departments across the four constituent colleges would have to network and arrive at a “consensus” when it came to putting out the package of practices for the farmers to adopt for sustainable agriculture. He also stressed that problem-solving, user-oriented and job-generating time-bound technologies would get focus in the endeavours at the university to usher in the second Green Revolution. In a meeting with the director of Extension Education, Dr S.S.Gill, and his colleagues, Dr Bajwa stressed that for any meaningful diversification, it would be imperative to come up with crop specific and site suitable cropping patterns in different parts of the state. Focus will have to be shifted from traditional farming of growing any crop anywhere to not only site-specific crops, but also on the scientifically approved technologies for higher yields, value addition and processing of a variety of food crops, fruits and vegetables included. Talking in general terms to match food production with galloping population increase, Dr Bajwa said India would need 265 million tonnes of foodgrains by 2020. If infrastructure and financial support is not extended to state agricultural universities and to the agriculture sector, India is likely to face a shortfall of 65 million tonnes by 2030. To meet the nutrition requirement of the country, the need will be for 300 million tonnes foodgrains per year. Speaking from his experience and the feedback he received from a cross-section of farmers and scientists concerned about the future of agriculture in Punjab, he said, “PAU will, henceforth, further finetune some of its recommended agronomic practices for wider acceptability and adoption”. He regretted that despite all talk of reducing at least 10 lakh hectares under paddy, this crop, alien to Punjab, continues to be grown in several districts, whereas it should not be. “There is a need for suitable aerobic as well as dry land varieties where basmati should grown and ordinary rice discouraged and vice versa,” he added. The alternative cropping system that PAU might come up with, would require government policy support in terms of market price and investment in processing for second green revolution to strike roots. Dr Bajwa and Dr Gill agreed that concept of organic farming would also have to be clarified to those who opposed the use of chemicals in agriculture. Complete switchover to organic farming as advocated in certain quarters would in no way help India to increase its food production to meet the requirements of the people. Genetic engineering or biotechnology to develop insect, pest, disease-resistant varieties is one way of reducing the use of pesticides. This has been effectively proved in the case of cotton wherein BT cotton requires far less number of chemical sprays than in the past. They also expressed concern over climate changes and global warming. The scientists across the country will now have to factor this into future plant breeding programmes. Carbon trading is yet another new concept and there is no way to determine how much of it is let into the air by agriculture sector, though, it is a major cause of concern the world over. In fact, India is now an active player in the concept of carbon trading and at least 272 projects are in operation in different parts of the country.
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German delegates visit PAU
Ludhiana, October 5 What impressed the delegation was the manner in which technology is generated, evaluated and recommended for adoption by the farmers. Dr Gerhard Flachowsky, Director of the Institute of Animal Nutrition, acknowledged that much in his remarks after Dr Gill had spoken. The group also appreciated the involvement of farmers in decision-making through feed back on what they desired or the way they put their problems before the scientists. The members of the delegation visited the departments of farm power and machinery, horticulture, vegetables and plant breeding, genetics and biotechnology where they interacted with the scientists.
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PAU to host international conference
Ludhiana, October 5 As many as 50 delegates from the USA, Europe, Pakistan, Israel and Canada and over 150 delegates from within the country are expected to attend the three-day conference. Dr Patricia Imas, India Coordinator, International Potash Institute, Switzerland, met the Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.S.Aulakh to discuss the modalities. Dr Imas said she was also monitoring the application of chemical fertilisers in China and it was imperative that there was a balance in the use of fertilisers in developed and developing countries for sustainable agricultural production. She added that 182 research papers will be presented during the conference. Dr Aulakh will preside over the conference while Dr M.S. Swaminathan, Chairman, National Commission on Farmers, will inaugurate the conference and Dr Mangla Rai, Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, will be the special guest.
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Veterinary science students call off strike
Ludhiana, October 5 However, the controversy surrounding the diploma in veterinary sciences do not seem to end as the student wanted that the diploma in veterinary and animal health technology should be discontinued while the Vet, Pharmacist Union announced to intensify the agitation if the diploma was discontinued. A spokesperson for the university said the strike by the students was called off after their key demands were accepted. The students were given an assurance that no such diploma would be started by the university. The students wanted that diploma in the veterinary and animal health technology started by the university should be discontinued. It was agreed that in future the admission to B.V.Sc. and A.H causes would be made as per the existing capacity i.e. 52 (open)+20 NRI/other sponsored category from next academic year with the existing admission rule as prescribed in prospectus of the university. Finally, the issue of affiliation with the Veterinary Council of India would be pursued vigorously by the Dean, College of Veterinary Science.
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DC visits school for mentally challenged
Ludhiana, October 5 He was enthusiastically received by children, staff, and members of the Inner Wheel Club. Mr Ashok Gupta was told that members of the Inner Wheel had been running the school for the last 28 years. Children presented a cultural programme to the best of their ability and were thrilled to burst crackers. Mr Sarabjit Singh, President of Rotary Club was present on the occasion.
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NSS volunteers get yoga tips
Our Correspondent
Ludhiana, October 5 In other activities volunteers visited the adopted slum areas, Ambedkar Nagar where they organised a free medical check-up camp for slum dwellers with the help of the Krishna Charitable Hospital. Volunteers also conducted survey on male/female ratio in the slum areas. Lectures were delivered by members of the Tarksheel Society do in which they tried to make aware the volunteers about superstitions and the importance of communal harmony. Talent hunt: The final round of talent hunt 2006 was conducted on the campus of GMT College of Education here today. The programme was organised under the chairmanship of the Principal, Dr H.S. Sidhu. The chief guests on the occasion were Vice-President of the Management Committee, Ms Surinder Thind and famous singer Rajinder Malhar.Vijay and Harpreet bagged the first position in the debate competition, Kulwinder bagged the first position in singing competition Sandeep Kaur and Ramandeep Kaur bagged the first position in traditional song singing competition. Mandeep brings laurels to GNDEC: Mandeep Singh, final year mechanical engineering student of the GNDEC has won the fourth prize, SAE-International (Northern Section, India Awards) at a function held at New Delhi. This prize was given by Mr Greig H. Henderson, President SAE-International, USA.
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Businessman convicted in cheque bounce case
Ludhiana, October 5 Pronouncing the verdict, Mr Arora held, “An award of sentence of
one year and the imposition of fine are not going to result in any
monetary relief to the complainant, who has apparently suffered a loss
due to the non-payment of Rs 2 lakh advanced to Mr Jain. So, I deem it
proper to invoke the provisions of Section 357 of Cr. PC and award Rs
50,000 as compensation to be paid by the accused to the complainant”.
The orders were pronounced by the court while deciding the complaint
filed by Mr Raj Kumar Pambi, proprietor of M/s R.R. Fabrics, New
Shivpuri. It was submitted by the complainant that he had advanced a
financial help of Rs 2 lakh to the accused on May 25, 2000.
Thereafter, in order to discharge the legally enforceable liability
the accused issued two post-dated cheques for Rs 1 lakh each. He had
assured that the cheques would be honoured on its presentation. However,
to the utter surprise, when the cheques were presented to the banker of
the accused for payment, the same were dishonoured with remarks ‘funds
insufficient’. The cheques were returned by the bank with their
memos. While on the other hand, the accused pleaded innocence. He
stated before the court that the cheques had actually been stolen and he
was under no liability. However, after appreciating the evidence on
record, the Judge observed that the accused had taken contradictory
pleas. During cross-examination of the complainant in the witness box it
was suggested to him that the cheques were not honoured, as the interest
on the advanced amount was not settled, further remarked the
Judge.
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Sirjan to encourage creativity
Ludhiana, October 5 According to him students are often discouraged by apparent complications of shapes and knowledge of tools and materials. Some sculptors are attracted to a particular style of work. However, every individual who has a creative mind will develop a unique style of his own.” He further told the students that fear of unknown caused man to devise God that was worshipped for his protection. During this workshop, Rana is taking up basic techniques and started with clay modelling, mould making, coil method, slip casting and casting in various mediums such as POP, terracotta and Cement. He plans to teach methods of making sculpture from paper maiche and also male brief introduction to wood carving, fiber glass and wrought iron. A person with a creative mind can create any type of sculpture from any material. This will be a unique experience for the budding artists of Punjab. In fact there were many participants from other cities such as Amritsar and Jalandhar.
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Workers protest against health authorities
Ludhiana, October 5 “In case of workers whose ESI report is not issued by an employer, the Deputy Director of factories, following a complaint regarding the same by workers, issues a letter asking doctors to give a disability certificate to the worker. A worker, Sanjay, from a cycle unit, was issued a letter by the Deputy Director, factories, on May 29 this year. But the CMO Office allegedly is not issuing him a disability certificate on one or the other grounds. First they asked him to get a stamp from Labour Officer, which was not necessary and later they asked him to fulfil some other formality which was again not required. This is sheer harassment of workers and we would not tolerate it,” alleged Mr Jagdish Chand, Joint Secretary, CITU, Punjab. The protest dharna was supported by various other workers’ associations, including the Punjab Motors Mazdoor Union and the Punjab Technical Services Union. The rally was addressed by CITU, Punjab, general secretary, Raghunath Singh, Punjab Technical Services Union (scientific centre) president Devraj, Punjab Motors Mazdoor Union president Khurshid Mohammad and several other union leaders. The workers threatened to intensify their stir if the administration did not take a concrete action to prevent their harassment. They said they would hold protest dharnas every Thursday outside the CMO office till the problem was resolved.
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DMCH doctor wins laurels
Ludhiana, October 5 The SAARC congress, attended by the National ENT Societies of all the members nations, was hosted by India in New Delhi recently. Discussing the problem of blurred vision or loss of vision following trauma or sinus infection in his presentation at the conference, Dr Munjal maintained that there was a hope for such patients as the technique of endoscopic surgical intervention had been introduced and developed to a high level. The endoscopic technique, he added, was precise, minimally invasive with magnified visualization and ensured decompression of the eyeball and its nerve with minimal bleeding and shorter hospitalisation, along with a markedly reduced expenditure.
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