To give emphasis to the farmers regarding the successful cultivation of soybean and to promote it through agricultural exhibitions, a Field Day on soybean cultivation was organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bahowal, Hoshiarpur, the district level extension institution of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, on 8-11-2024 at village Punj.
On this occasion, Dr. Maninder Singh Bance, Associate Director (Training), Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bahowal, Hoshiarpur said that this Field Day is being organized on the cultivation of an improved variety of soybean, S. L. 958 (Shal 958). He highlighted that soybean is used in many ways in food and industry, such as edible oil, soy milk and products made from it, bakery products, in medicines and fresh green soybean. Dr. Dr. Bance said that this variety of soybean, S. L. 958 takes about 142 days to mature and the average yield of this variety is about 7.3 quintals per acre. Dr. Bance praised the farmers of the area, who have been successfully cultivating soybean crop for the last several years and are playing an important role in crop diversification. Dr. Bance also informed that very little water and pesticides are used for soybean cultivation and wild animals also cause negligible damage to it and it is being cultivated on about 500 acres of land. To further promote the cultivation of this crop, soybean seeds are also being prepared at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra farm and made available to the farmers.
Dr. Prabhjot Kaur, Assistant Professor (Plant Protection), Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bahowal, Hoshiarpur explained the purpose of soybean crop exhibitions and also shed light on the research and efforts being done by the university to further promote soybean cultivation. She also explained in detail about the control of hairy caterpillar, tobacco caterpillar, pod borer caterpillar and whitefly in soybean crop.
Dr. Karamveer Singh Garcha, Assistant Professor (Vegetable Science), Krishi Vigyan Kendra shed light on the nutritional importance of fruits and vegetables and stressed on adopting a nutritious home garden.
The farmers participating in this Farm Day were taken to visit soybean fields where they also discussed their doubts with experts.
Read more: https://www.pau.edu/index.php?_act=manageEvent&DO=viewEventDetail&dataE=datae&intID=9903
