30-Member US Delegation applauds PAU for its achievements

Ludhiana, January 16, 2015: To gain in-depth understanding of Punjab agriculture, a 30-member delegation from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA visited the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. The visit of the US delegation was a part of their Nebraska Leadership Education and Action Development (LEAD) Programme, headed by Dr Terry Hejny, Director, Nebraska LEAD Programme, Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council. The visiting delegation interacted with the senior officials of the University.

 

Dr Hejny highly praised the Punjab Agricultural University by stating “We are honoured to see the achievements of this University. It deserves all round applause.”

 

Dr Jagtar S. Dhiman, Additional Director of Research (Natural Resource and Plant Health Management), familiarized the delegation with the genesis and research programmes of PAU. He said that the focused areas of PAU’s research are depleting underground water, deteriorating soil health, crop diversification, climate change, conservation agriculture, farm mechanization, bio-energy, and agro-processing and value addition. Dr Dhiman also highlighted international research collaborations, salient crop production and protection technologies, and landmark achievements in crop improvement.

 

Dr P.S. Aulakh, Additional Director of Extension Education, said that PAU has strong extension mechanism and excellent linkages with the farming community. He remarked that more than one lakh farmers from across Punjab and adjoining states participate in the Kisan Melas. Huge rush of farmers is seen during seed sale at PAU Kisan Mela, he added. Dr Aulakh further said that PAU also provides single window delivery system for diagnostic services, technological advice, weed management, seed, saplings, etc.

 

Earlier, Dr Chander Mohan welcomed the delegates to PAU. He said that research, teaching and extension activities are the major components of the University. “Transferring the farm technologies to the real end users - the farmers has brought a good recognition to PAU at the national level,” he added. Apprising the delegates of the academic programmes, offered at PAU, Dr Mohan highlighted that the University has the credit of generating manpower of as many as 7000 people in various fields of agriculture and allied occupations.

 

The queries of the delegates; pertaining to farm publications, women empowerment in agriculture, funding for research projects, farm mechanization, seed production, and quality storage of the produce were addressed by the University experts.

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