One-day farmer training programme was organised at Pak-German Polytechnic Institute for Agriculture Technology, Chak 5 Faiz, Multan. The main objective of this programme was to transfer modern agriculture technology being adopted at the Institute to farmers. Zahid Hussain Gardezi, Member Board of Management, TEVTA, Multan and president Mango Growers Association was the chief guest.
More than thousands farmers from the surrounding areas participated in the training. Zia-ul-Hassan Shad, Project Director of the Institute briefed the farmers about the tunnel technology, drip irrigation, cotton sowing and benefits of transition of traditional type of cultivation to non-traditional type of cultivation. The participating farmers were shown Institute model farm to observe and learn about the cultivation of different vegetables under tunnel farming technology.
The participants attributed the services of management of Institute and showed keen willingness to adopt this technology. Saleem Haider, Incharge Agri Training, Muhammad Yaqoob Bhatti, Incharge Agriculture farm shared their knowledge with the farmers. Different pesticide, fertiliser and seed companies participated in this one day farmer training programme with their product stalls and also briefed the farmers about their product and their importance.
Addressing the farmers Zahid Hussain Gardezi said that the farmer community of the country could adopt non-traditional cropping pattern to increase their income and promote kitchen crops of higher value. He said that Pakistan is basically an agrarian economy where majority of farmers and growers have medium and small landholdings. By growing off-season vegetables and ornamental crops farmers can increase their incomes manifolds. He said that the use of contemporary technologies in agriculture is the need of time.
Gardezi briefed the participating farmers regarding the role of TEVTA in upgrading Pak-German Polytechnic Institute and told them that the Chairman TEVTA Saeed Alvi has taken keen interest to provide modern farm machinery for PGPICA. He urged the farmers to acquire maximum benefits from the Institute, which has a mandate to teach farmers about modern agriculture. Zahid Hussain Gardezi appreciated the working of the institute and commended its staff.