PAU Agronomist Dr Gulshan Mahajan Elected As Naas Fellow

Ludhiana, November 28, 2016: Dr Gulshan Mahajan, Senior Agronomist (Rice), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has been elected as Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), New Delhi, for his vital contributions to agronomic development in rice. This is the most prestigious award bestowed upon agricultural scientists.

Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, congratulated Dr Mahajan for this achievement and exhorted him to continue serving the farming community with dedication and devotion in future as well.

Dr Mahajan has made significant contribution in enhancing input use efficiency (water, nutrient and herbicide) in rice-wheat cropping system of Punjab. As a member of the rice improvement group, he has been instrumental in release and development of improved agronomic practices of 12 high yielding rice varieties in Punjab that helped in improving crop water productivity and profitability of the farmers. His research contributions to dry-seeded rice, improved rice agronomy for superior quality basmati rice, integrated weed management in wheat, and improved agronomy practices for greenhouse tomato and capsicum, have made a significant impact on Punjab agriculture and in framing policies for resource conservation.

Dr Mahajan has been working in the ICAR scheme- All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project (AICRP), Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, PAU, since 2006. His work was adjudged as “Best AICRIP Agronomy Centre Award (2013).” He has also been the Principal Investigator of Inter-Disciplinary International Research Projects on Dry-Direct Seeded Rice, funded by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines and Punjab Government.