Bathinda, June 1: Under the leadership of Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Harpreetpal Kaur, a meeting was held with all employees posted under the ATMA scheme. On this occasion, following the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Bathinda, Shri Rajesh Dhiman, she directed that the work of the 'Farmer Registry' in the district should be given special attention and completed on a priority basis. 
She stated that educated and needy 'Kisan Mitras' (farmer friends) should be selected. After providing them with training, their assistance should be utilized in the villages falling under their respective blocks for the Farmer Registry work. 
She instructed employees to organize farmer training camps in every village of their blocks regarding the balanced use of fertilizers and to create maximum awareness among the people. Dr. Tejdeep Kaur, Project Director, ATMA Bathinda, was appointed as the Nodal Officer for the Farmer Registry work to ensure that reports are sent to the department in a timely manner.
She emphasized the need to increase contact with farmers to boost the area under Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) in the district, aiming to conserve groundwater. She further directed that pest surveillance be conducted at the circle and block levels to protect crops sown during the Kharif 2026 season from insect and disease attacks. Instructions were given to send timely reports in this regard and to provide on-the-spot solutions to farmers in case of any pest infestation. 
She noted that the district was initially given a target of sowing maize (for cattle fodder) in 650 hectares during Kharif 2026. However, a revised target of 2,000 acres has now been received, and she ordered all officers/employees to fulfill the maize target at any cost.