Farmers-Scientists Interaction Meet on Rabi Season Crops

Date: 06-03-2026

Organizing by:Department of Agriculture, UIA, Sant Baba Bhag Singh University, Jalandhar

Event Venue:Village Ajram District Hoshiarpur

Activity Report

An extension awareness programme on “Rabi Season Crops and Modern Agricultural Technologies” was successfully organized at Village Ajram, District Hoshiarpur, under the Viksit Bharat KrishiSankalpAbhiyan by Dr.Shalu Vyas and Dr. Vikrant Jaryan from the Department of Agriculture, Sant Baba Bhag Singh University. The programme aimed to empower farmers with scientific knowledge and practical insights on crop management, farm diversification, and modern horticultural practices.
The programme was inaugurated by Dr.Shalu Vyas, Additional Dean (UIA) and Associate Professor (Horticulture), who emphasized the importance of adopting modern and sustainable agricultural technologies to enhance productivity and farmers’ income. She highlighted the need for integrating scientific advancements with traditional practices for long-term agricultural sustainability. Expert lectures were delivered by distinguished faculty members. Dr. Satish Kumar, Professor of Agronomy, elaborated on improved production technologies for major Rabi crops such as wheat, mustard, chickpea, and barley, with special emphasis on soil health management, balanced nutrition, and precision irrigation techniques. He also inspected the growth of the mustard variety (Pioneer 45S46 and RH 1975) distributed during his previous visit for sowing and expressed satisfaction with its performance.
Dr. K. S. Bangarwa, Professor of plant breeding and Forestry, discussed the role of agroforestry in enhancing farm income, particularly through the cultivation of Poplar and Eucalyptus. He visited the farmers’ poplar nursery and provided practical training on nursery raising and management techniques. Dr. Vikrant Jaryan, Associate Professor of Botany, encouraged farmers to adopt crop diversification and motivated rural youth to explore innovative agricultural ventures such as protected cultivation and agri-startups. Dr.Shalu Vyas (Fruit Science) further elaborated on modern horticultural practices, including high-density planting, canopy management, use of biofertilizers, micro-irrigation, and protected cultivation to improve productivity and profitability in fruit and vegetable crops.
An interactive session with farmers was also conducted, during which participants shared their experiences and raised queries related to pest management, soil fertility, and market linkages. The experts provided practical, science-based solutions to address these challenges. As part of the programme, improved varieties of mustard seeds were distributed among the farmers to promote the adoption of high-yielding varieties and encourage self-reliance in seed production. The farmers expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the initiative, acknowledging the university’s continuous efforts to support rural communities through knowledge dissemination and practical interventions.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks and a collective commitment to organize more such capacity-building initiatives in rural areas. Overall, the event proved highly successful in bridging the gap between research and field application, strengthening the linkage between Sant Baba Bhag Singh University and the farming community, and inspiring farmers towards sustainable, diversified, and technology-driven agriculture.