Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in Punjabs Gurdaspur district has started a 15-page monthly digital newspaper Uttam Kheti

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district has started a 15-page monthly digital newspaper ‘Uttam Kheti’ to make farmers aware of the new methods in agriculture and give them expert advice. District Training Officer Dr Amrik Singh who is the chief editor of ‘Uttam Kheti’ Newspaper said that the newspaper focuses on agricultural extension services (also known as agricultural advisory services) which play a crucial role in boosting agricultural productivity, increasing food security, improving rural livelihoods, and promoting agriculture as an engine of pro-poor economic growth.

Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur Dr Himanshu Agarwal released the first edition of ‘Uttam Kheti’ at his office on Friday in the presence of chief editor Dr Amrik Singh, Gurdaspur chief agriculture officer Dr Kripal Singh, and agriculture officer Harbhinder Singh. The newspaper will feature monthly trends in agriculture, stories of successful farmers, and advisories issued from time to time by agricultural experts. It will also have segments on crop diseases and related precautions and treatments.

The newspaper will also have the contact lists of agricultural experts in the districts so that the farmers can contact them in their time of need.

Dr Himanshu Agarwal said that in the present technological era digital platforms are important as they can convey new techniques of agriculture to more farmers in a very short time. He said that there is a huge contribution of young farmers in taking the occupation to greater heights. “In this digital era, most of the farmers use social media and this digital initiative of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare can help in passing on valuable information on agricultural topics to the grassroots level,” the officer said.

He further said that with this initiative the farmers would be able to know about the best cultivation techniques, timing, and available agricultural aids for various crops in advance. Apart from this, the farmers will be educated about the harmful effects of burning residue in the fields, timely testing of the soil, and usage of justifiable amounts of fertilisers and pesticides, etc.