The PAU-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Gurdaspur organized a farmer training-cum-awareness programme focused on “Energy Conservation in Agriculture” in collaboration with the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). Held at the KVK Campus, the event brought together various stakeholders to explore sustainable agricultural practices.
Dr. S.S. Aulakh, Associate Director (Training) at KVK Gurdaspur, welcomed participants and emphasized the critical importance of energy and water conservation within the rice-wheat cropping system. He advocated for the adoption of renewable energy sources, noting their environmental advantages, particularly the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. He also urged farmers to use agro-chemicals judiciously to safeguard the environment and reduce production costs.
Sh. Karan Kandhari, Program Coordinator at PEDA, provided valuable insights into the use of solar photovoltaic pumps for energy conservation, offering guidance on the selection, installation, and operation of submersible pumps. He also discussed a range of solar energy gadgets suitable for both domestic and agricultural applications.
Dr. Arvind Dhingra, Energy Expert from GNE, Ludhiana, elaborated on the use of solar energy gadgets in agriculture and allied sectors, encouraging farmers to adopt these technologies to conserve energy. He also outlined the energy conservation schemes available from both Central and State Governments.
Dr. Satwinderjit Kaur, Associate Professor (Soils), discussed water-saving technologies in rice cultivation, including delayed transplanting, alternate wetting and drying, and the use of short-duration paddy varieties.
Dr. R.S. Chhina, Professor of FMPE, highlighted the benefits of micro-irrigation systems and explained the concept of fertigation, emphasizing its potential to increase crop yields and save fertilizers. He also motivated participants to adopt various methods of in-situ crop residue management and tree plantation as strategies to mitigate the extreme effects of temperature on human and animal health, as well as crops. The programme concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where farmers’ queries were addressed. PAU literature was distributed to all participants, ensuring they left with valuable information to implement in their agricultural practices.
Read more: https://www.pau.edu/index.php?_act=manageEvent&DO=viewEventDetail&dataE=datae&intID=9472
