SAC Meet Frames Roadmap For Sustainable Agriculture At KVK Pathankot
24 February 2026, Punjab: The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting of PAU Krishi Vigyan Kendra Pathankot was successfully organized on 23 February 2025 at the KVK campus with active participation from scientists, officers of allied departments, progressive farmers, farm women and rural entrepreneurs. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Prabhjodh Singh Sandhu, Additional Director of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, who guided the deliberations and emphasized the crucial role of KVKs in strengthening farmer–scientist linkages.
The programme was graced by Dr. Harpal Singh Randhawa, Director, PAU–Regional Research Station, Gurdaspur, as Guest of Honour, and Dr. Bikramjit Singh, Associate Director (Training), PAU–KVK Amritsar, as Special Guest. Their presence added significance to the deliberations focused on sustainable and profitable agriculture in Pathankot district.
The meeting commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Ravinder Singh Chhina, Incharge, PAU–KVK Pathankot. He presented the detailed Progress Report of previous year, highlighting achievements in frontline demonstrations, on-farm trials, capacity-building programmes, vocational trainings, extension campaigns and farmer outreach initiatives conducted across the district. He also placed the proposed Action Plan for next year before the house, outlining future strategies for technology dissemination, crop diversification, natural resource management and entrepreneurship development.
In his presidential address, Dr. Sandhu motivated farmers to adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), focus on value addition and crop processing, and strictly follow PAU-recommended technologies to enhance productivity, profitability and sustainability. He stressed the importance of scientific crop planning, quality seed use, balanced fertilization and climate-resilient practices to meet emerging agricultural challenges.
Dr. Randhawa, in his address, strongly advocated the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and eco-friendly pest management techniques to reduce excessive dependence on chemical pesticides. He emphasized need-based spray applications, use of bio-control agents, monitoring of pest populations and conservation of beneficial insects to ensure environmentally sound and cost-effective farming systems.
Dr. Bikramjit Singh encouraged farmers to diversify and adopt subsidiary occupations such as beekeeping, mushroom cultivation, jaggery making, and sheep & goat farming to enhance household income and ensure risk mitigation. He highlighted the role of skill development and entrepreneurship in strengthening the rural economy.
A detailed discussion was held on refinement of location-specific technologies based on farmers’ feedback. Representatives from allied departments actively participated and shared valuable suggestions for integrated rural development. Progressive farmers, farm women and rural entrepreneurs exhibited value-added products and fresh produce during the meeting, showcasing successful adoption of recommended technologies.
The dignitaries later visited the demonstration units of the KVK and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the staff in transferring advanced agricultural technologies to the farming community. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks and a collective resolve to further strengthen farmer–scientist interaction for the overall agricultural development of Pathankot district.
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