Bareilly: A district-level farmers’ seminar was organized at the auditorium of the Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, in collaboration with the Horticulture Department, Bareilly. The programme was conducted under the Integrated Horticulture Development Mission scheme and witnessed enthusiastic participation from farmers across Bareilly and adjoining areas.
Progressive farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and Self-Help Groups set up stalls showcasing and selling a variety of products including honey, spices, pickles, murabba, mustard oil, organic formulations, and vegetable seedlings. Most of the products were organically prepared and received an encouraging response from visitors.
Vice-Chancellor Professor K.P. Singh, the chief guest, highlighted that the university is currently educating nearly five lakh students across nine districts. He emphasized the importance of agricultural education and farmers’ progress, stating that the establishment of the agriculture faculty would directly benefit local farmers. While several universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras are working toward farmers’ welfare, he stressed the need for digital platforms that farmers can easily understand in their own language. He also underscored the importance of developing quality fruit and vegetable nurseries and integrated farming models within universities. He called upon students, scientists, and progressive farmers to work collectively for the betterment of the farming community, remarking that supporting farmers ultimately strengthens the nation.
Former Director of the Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture, Dr. Shailendra Rajan, shared his expertise, particularly on mango and guava cultivation. He advised farmers to thoroughly understand suitable varieties before establishing orchards and emphasized diversification in agriculture.
Dean and Head of the Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, Dr. Upendra Kumar, stated that first-year agriculture students are being trained by qualified faculty members in modern agricultural techniques. He encouraged farmers to educate their children in agriculture so they can acquire technical expertise and contribute to rural prosperity.
Subject Matter Specialist Dr. Ranjeet Singh from Krishi Vigyan Kendra explained scientific methods of orchard establishment, advising farmers to dig planting pits in advance and adopt diversified activities such as poultry or goat farming to ensure regular income, as fruit crops do not generate steady returns year-round.
District Horticulture Officer Bareilly, Jitendra Kumar, expressed gratitude to the guests and urged farmers to avail themselves of subsidies under the Integrated Horticulture Development Mission. He informed that subsidies ranging from 35 to 50 percent are available under the scheme, including 50 percent assistance for polyhouse construction and 35 percent subsidy for setting up agriculture equipment-based industries.
The programme was conducted by Professor of Practice Anil Sahani. Among those present were former Principal Scientist Dr. D.K. Sharma, Deputy Director Horticulture Bareilly Division, Saurabh Pradhan of VNR Nursery Chhattisgarh, Dr. Mohammad Gufran Khan, Dr. Mohit Chaudhary, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, Media In-charge Dr. Vinay Verma, and Tapan Verma.
Report by Akhilesh Chandra Saxena from Bareilly.
