Fatehgarh Sahib, February 05, 2018: A team zonal monitory committee from Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad visited this district to monitor the climate resilient activities in village Badhouchhi Kalan, Fatehgarh Sahib under the project National initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture(NICRA) funded by ICAR, New Delhi.
The Deputy Director of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Fatehgarh Sahib Dr. Harinder Singh, told that NICRA project is being operated by KVK since 2011 and is a pilot project started in 100 villages in India and village Badhouchhi Kalanis one of the four villages in Punjab. The team was headed by Dr. A K Mehta, Former ADG (Extension) ICAR, New Delhi and Dr. Rakesh Sharada, Sr. Extn. Specialist, PAU, Ludhiana, Dr. Shantnu Kumar Bal, Principal Scientist CRIDA, Hydrabad and Dr. G.S. Butter, ADEE, PAU, Ludhiana as its members. The team monitored the climate resilient activities based on national resource management, crop production and livestock modules. The team also discussed the various aspects related to effect of climate change on crops and livestock. The team also visited the interventions on happy seeder technology, biogas plants,vermi compost units, Dairy Farmers, Diversified farming, Self-help groups and quality fodder barseem+ rye grass conducted by KVK, Fatehgarh Sahib. A total of 384 households are covered under this project for new technology demonstrations and a approximate are of 200 acre is covered under new techniques, After motivated by these farmers many farmers of the village has adopted the recommended technologies at their own level. S. Kulwant Singh, village farmer have purchased his own Happy Seeder and cultivated his 30 acres without straw burning. He has given a great example to the village farmers. Two more farmers of the village have also purchased Happy Seeder for sowing of wheat. Dr. A.K. Mehta, while addressing the farmers put emphasis on the conservation of natural resources in the back drop of climate variability. He also sensitized the farmers not to burn the crop residues as burning leads to environmental pollution, loss of biodiversity and loss of nutrients to the tune of 350 crores in the state. Dr. G.S. Buttar from PAU, Ludhiana emphasized that the agriculture scientists are facing major challenges for current and futurelivelihood of farming community.
Dr. Harinder Singh, Deputy Director (Trg.), KVK brief about the various activities under the NICRA project. He said that area under Happy Seeder increased from 1.6 ha to 20 ha and the entire village is covered under the soil health card scheme. At the end Dr. Harinder Singh asked the farmers to follow the various agricultural technologies recommended by PAU, Ludhiana to enhance crop productivity as well as soil fertility and with all KVK staff he thanked the ZMC team and assured the committee members to follow the recommendation in national interest.