Women entrepreneurs to put up free stalls at Kisan Mela

Women entrepreneurs in the agricultural and allied fields will figure prominently at the Kisan Mela, to be held at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, on September 21 and 22.

Women who have taken a course at PAU or at the university-run Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the districts have been offered space gratis to put up stalls and market goods and articles.

Speaking to Business Standard, Sarjit Singh Gill, Director of Extension Education, said this had been done to acknowledge the role of farmers' wives and daughters in decision-making at home.

"Besides training farmers on the latest production and protection technologies, PAU scientists' focus will be on creating awareness among them to make judicious use of natural resources and to follow the University recommendations in letter and spirit to save on farm inputs: plant protection chemicals and fertilizers.''

The leaf colour chart and tensiometer developed at the Department of Soils for optimum application of urea; to save water and give only need-based irrigation to paddy will be added attraction.

The soil scientists will be at hand to explain the profitability and usefulness of using these two innovations. "The leaf colour chart will be available at a cost of Rs 26.50 and tensiometer for Rs 300.

The farmers who are unable to purchase these items at Ludhiana could procure these from Krishi Vigyan Kendras in different districts,'' informed Gill.