Ludhiana: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) will honour progressive farmers and livestock entrepreneurs during the inaugural ceremony of their joint two-day Kisan Mela and Pashu Palan Mela on September 18–19. The event aims to promote scientific farming, diversification, and sustainable agricultural practices.Dr Makhhan Singh Bhullar, director of extension education at PAU, stated that the university recognises farmers who pioneer new agricultural technologies, natural resource conservation, horticulture, and allied occupations to motivate others to boost their incomes.Among the PAU awardees, Gurmeet Singh of Khera Kotli village in Hoshiarpur will receive the Surjit Singh Dhillon Award. He has enhanced his family’s income by adopting allied agricultural activities and undergoing training at several progressive institutions.The Surjit Singh Dhillon Outstanding Small Farmer Award will be presented to Jobandeep Singh of Malakheri village in Amritsar. The 32-year-old farmer has successfully adopted organic farming practices and several PAU-recommended eco-friendly technologies.In the NRI Award category, Gurdial Singh of Sallopur village in Gurdaspur has been selected for developing a successful model of crop diversification. The 60-year-old farmer currently cultivates 20 acres of land, comprising eight owned acres and 12 leased acres.The second NRI Award will go to Balbir Singh Bhullar of Faridkot. The 34-year-old progressive farmer has worked for the past 18 years to move beyond the traditional wheat-paddy cycle and develop sustainable, profitable farming alternatives.Kulwinder Singh of Madarpur village in Patiala has been selected for the Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award. He has implemented environment-friendly field crop recommendations and university-developed technologies across his agricultural land.The Ujagar Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award will be presented to Manpreet Singh of Ferozepur. He is being recognised for adopting improved technologies and cultivating vegetables on at least 60% of his total agricultural land.The Bhai Babu Singh Brar Chhappar Award will be conferred upon the panchayat of Raikhana village in Bathinda district. The local body is being honored for its outstanding collective contribution to village development and community welfare.Dr Tejinder Singh Riar, additional director of communication, urged farming families to attend and learn from these role models. Dr Ravinder Singh Grewal, GADVASU director of extension education, added that the awards aim to encourage technology adoption and livestock entrepreneurship. At the Pashu Palan Mela, GADVASU will confer the chief minister’s awards across three distinct categories.In the Innovative cattle farmer category, Balwinder Singh of Chauntra village in Muktsar will receive the honour. He manages a modern dairy farm housing 90 cows and produces 12 quintals of milk daily using a mechanized milking parlour.In the innovative poultry farmer category, Rajesh Garg of Sangrur will be awarded. He operates a 15-acre poultry farm housing 4,50,000 hens and 2,00,000 chicks in environmentally controlled sheds while extending nutritional support to nearby hospital patients.In the value addition of Livestock Produce category, Jarnail Singh of Harike in Tarn Taran will receive the award. He operates a 50,000-litre daily capacity milk processing facility using scientific methods to produce value-added dairy products, sweets, and by-products.
