Nauni varsity to focus on overall improvement: Dr Kaushal

Dr Parvinder Kaushal, Vice-Chancellor of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni today stressed that the university will put in sincere efforts to improve academic, research and extension activities so that the institution can not only strengthen its standing in the country but also compete with the best global universities. These views were expressed by him while interacting with the media on Friday.

Dr Kaushal said that an important mandate of the university was to train skilled human resource in horticulture and forestry. To improve the ratio of students getting into top positions, the university will not only start special coaching for competitive examinations like for JRF, SRF, ARS and IFS but will also be starting vocational programmes with the provision of lateral entry. He said that the university will utilize modern teaching and learning aids to provide a better learning environment to the students. Strengthening the career and placement cell of the university and digitization through the academic management system including library facilities were the other focus areas where the university aims to improve. The Vice-Chancellor said that university will not only work to develop new varieties but also increase the seeds and planting material of various fruits, vegetables, medicinal and forest plants provided to the farmers. Further steps will also be taken to start trails on new varieties and recommend them to the farmers of the state.

On the research and extension front, Dr Kaushal said that the university will ensure that the technologies and the knowledge flow from the university reaches the farming community of the state. To ensure this a common skill development programme will be established at all the Krishi Vigyan Kendras. He added the university will tie-up with the line department of the state for running skill development programmes for the farmers and address the issues right from production to marketing. He said that doubling of farming income by reducing input cost and market interventions is also a goal which the university will like to accomplish. The systemic promotion and propagation of natural farming in the state was another area, in which the university will be training 50 farmers from each block. Demonstration models on the fields of five farmers in each block will also be established. Besides organizing annual state-level Kisan Melas and Kisan Divas, the university will undertake in-house and field training for the farmers of the state and adjoining areas in the field of horticulture and agroforestry.

Thanking the state government for approving several positions for the university, Dr Kaushal said, “We will be undertaking recruitment of 39 positions of Assistant Professors which was advertised earlier this year. Besides, the university has also advertised 23 additional posts of Assistant Professors and over 55 posts of non-teaching staff of various categories approved by the Himachal government this year.” He added that the university will take up the matter of increasing the retirement age of faculty to 65 years with the state government.

On the infrastructure development front, timely completion of several ongoing construction works (above Rs 1 crore each) namely boys hostel, augmentation of water supply scheme, playground and pavilion block, fencing of main campus and research stations, laboratory and multipurpose building at COH&F Neri and construction of administrative building at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tabo have been prioritized. The university will explore avenues of funding for research and development from different national and international funding agencies to improve its research footprint and infrastructure. In the field of research and extension, the university will undertake and guide research on cutting-edge technologies for cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants, forest plants species, and agroforestry, including high-density plantation, protected cultivation and precision farming. Moreover, research and development support to the alternative farming systems including conservation agriculture, natural farming etc., to produce residue-free farm products and increase the farmers' income will also be provided to increase such activities. Dr Kaushal said that the university scientists will work out models for the conservation of national resources and biodiversity for sustainable development in horticulture and farming sectors. He said that entrepreneurs will be given research and development support to encourage them to take benefit out of government schemes and become job creators rather than job seekers.

The meeting was also attended by Dr Rakesh Gupta, Dean College of Horticulture; Dr PK Mahajan, Dean College of Forestry; Rajiv Kumar, Registrar; Dr Kulwant Rai, SWO; HM Verma, Comptroller and Er Arpana Rohela, Estate Officer.