PAU award for painting land of 5 rivers with 5 carrot hues

Ludhiana: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has announced six progressive farmers to be honoured at this year’s Kisan Mela, scheduled for September 13. Among the awardees is Mohandeep Singh, who will receive the prestigious Sardar Ujjagar Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award for his unique carrot production.Mohandeep Singh, a farmer from Hayatpura village, Ludhiana, is recognized for growing five different colors of carrots across 25-35 acres of land. With 12 years of agricultural experience, he cultivates red carrots on 26 acres, yellow on two, orange on 20, white on one, and black on eight acres. In addition, he produces white and red radishes, French beans, chilies, pumpkins, and cauliflower on his farm. A successful vegetable seed grower, Singh provides seeds to farmers in nearly 200 areas and follows the recommendations of PAU, Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh-based institutes.Organic vegetable gets recognitionKarnail Singh, a farmer from Bassi Gulam Hussain village, Hoshiarpur, will be honored with the Sardar Surjit Singh Dhillon Award for his commitment to organic vegetable farming. He has excelled in residue-free vegetable production using vermi-compost for soil health and mulching techniques for weed management. A member of the PAU Kisan Club and Organic Farmers’ Club, Singh markets his produce through the Atma Kisan Hut and Safe Food Mandi, while staying in close contact with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) for technical guidance.Crop diversification via veggie farmingGurpreet Singh, from Tharajwala village, Sri Muktsar Sahib, will also be presented with the Sardar Surjit Singh Dhillon Award. Singh is known for his achievements in crop diversification through productive vegetable farming. He employs water conservation techniques, such as sprinkler irrigation and underground pipes, and focuses on soil health with green manure. Singh upgrades his knowledge with the help of KVK and Farm Advisory Service Centers.Farmer who never burnt wheat strawBal Krishan, a resident of Bhulan village, Sangrur, will receive the Sardar Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award for his sustainable farming practices. Farming on 22 acres of ancestral land and 30 acres on lease, he has avoided burning wheat straw since 2013, instead opting for sustainable wheat production. Krishan also grows basmati rice, green fodder, bajra, and jowar, and supplements his income through mushroom cultivation, beekeeping, poultry farming, and agro-processing.Entrepreneurial spirit in garment enrichmentKulwinder Kaur, from Kath Mathi village, Patiala, will be recognized with the Sardarni Jagbir Kaur Grewal Memorial Award for her entrepreneurial spirit. A matriculate, Kaur has undergone training in dairy farming, phulkari embroidery, and tie-dye techniques. She grows low-water-consuming rice varieties and other crops while contributing to her family’s income through garment work and milk production.Mechanised farmingof groundnut Devinder Singh, from Ram Tatwali village, Hoshiarpur, will be awarded the Parwasi Bharti Award for his 35-year dedication to scientific farming. Cultivating 26 acres (four owned, 22 leased), he has mechanized groundnut farming using Inclined Plate Planter and Thresher. Devinder Singh also practices diversified farming with wheat, paddy, safeda, and dairy farming, attributing his success to the support from PAU, CIPHET, and other agricultural bodies.