Ludhiana: In a move that could significantly widen the reach of farm advisories across Punjab, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has introduced an audio facility in the Punjabi edition of its weekly digital magazine ‘Kheti Sandesh’, allowing farmers to listen to articles instead of reading them.The initiative is aimed at making scientific information more accessible to farmers who may be working in the fields, prefer audio content, or face literacy barriers. Users can now listen to stories by clicking an audio option placed above each article or through an icon on the top-right corner of the page.PAU officials said ‘Kheti Sandesh’ already reaches lakhs of farmers and agriculture stakeholders through various digital platforms, and the new feature is expected to further expand its outreach.Releasing the latest issues of the magazine, PAU vice-chancellor Dr Harvinder Singh Dhaliwal said technology should serve farmers in the language and format most convenient to them. He said the audio facility would strengthen the university’s digital extension efforts and help deliver research-based recommendations directly to farmers.“We aim to ensure that every farmer, irrespective of literacy level, has reliable scientific advice within easy reach,” he said.Director of extension education Dr Makhan Singh Bhullarsaid timely and reliable information is among the most important inputs for farmers. The audio feature, he said, would make farm advisories more inclusive and help reach those who find reading difficult.Additional director communication Dr Tejinder Singh Riar said the university would continue exploring ways to make its extension services more farmer-friendly and accessible.PAU also lauded the efforts of ‘Kheti Sandesh’editors Dr Gurpreet Singh Makkarand Dr Kulwinder Kaur Gillin expanding the publication’s reach among the farming community.How the feature worksAudio option available above every articleOne-click listening through page iconTargets farmers working in fields and non-readersExpected to boost reach of PAU advisories across Punjab
