Agriculture was one of the key themes for the Punjabi American Working Group at its workshop on Saturday, May 18, at the Madera Gurudwara Sahib. CDFA representatives from the Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation and the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division, were on-hand to provide information about the agency’s programs.
This event brought together farmers, industry experts, and state and federal government representatives to discuss pressing issues and opportunities in agriculture. The workshop covered a wide range of topics including global marketing challenges, the sustainability of family farms, climate change, and drought resilience.
CDFA Secretary Karen Ross delivered a video address, highlighting the vital contributions of Punjabi farmers to California’s agriculture. She expressed excitement about the newly established Punjabi American Growers Group (PAGG) and emphasized the importance of culturally appropriate and multilingual technical assistance for climate-smart agriculture, underscoring the partnership with technical assistance provider Farms-R-Us.
She noted their significant roles in growing crops like rice, walnuts, peaches, almonds, and raisins, and highlighted the remarkable growth in the Central Valley and southern San Joaquin areas. “The role of Punjabi immigrants and the contributions that Punjabi farmers have made in the transformation of California agriculture over the 100 years that we’ve been welcoming people from the Punjabi region of India is invaluable,” said Secretary Ross. “I am especially excited about the partnership that we now have with your organization working with a technical assistance provider called Farms-R-Us on all things climate-smart agriculture.”
The event also included updates on water markets, drought resilience, and the impacts of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) on farming. Participants had the opportunity to engage in roundtable discussions, network during lunch, and visit the vendor expo for additional information. Key partners in the event included USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), CDFA, the Department of Water Resources (DWR), local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs), UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR), the Farm Service Agency (FSA), CSU Water, and several agricultural organizations like the Almond Board and Blue Diamond.
Congratulations to the Punjabi American Growers Group on a successful event and thank you to all who participated and contributed to its success.