NAWANSHAHR: In order to increase the area under potato cultivation in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, the district administration will promote the use of quality seeds of the crops among the farmers to enhance farmers’ dividends and diversification.
Deputy Commissioner Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa, who visited an Aeroponics unit at Majra Jattan, Balachaur, said that SBS Nagar has 2862 hectares under potato cultivation and the administration is targeting to enhance the area under vegetable by 600 hectares.
NPS Randhawa told that this Aeroponics unit has been set up with the financial assistance being provided under National Horticulture Mission and under this technique, tissue culture plants produce quality seed potatoes. He said one of important feature of technique is that it saves up to 90% of water, little need of fertilizer and can produce potato crop more than once in a season.
He said that farmers have to depend on breeder quality of seed for high-yield, which is in limited supply and to meet the shortage of high quality seeds, such Aeroponics units can help to provide uninterrupted supply of quality seeds. He said that Aeroponics technology ensures production of quality potatoes’ seeds and can make Nawanshahr a leading district in potato production in Punjab due to conducive environment for the crop.
Deputy Commissioner appealed the farmers to avail maximum benefit of the unit and make SBS Nagar district frontrunner in diversification.
Assistant Director Horticulture Dr. Jagdish Singh Kahma said that any farmer of the district, who wants to opt for growing fruit and vegetables, can contact the district head office or block level office.
Prominent among present on the occasion included Horticulture Development Officer Dr. Rajesh Kumar Balachaur and others.