PAU INKS PACT FOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF ONION AND BELL PEPPER VARIETIES

Ludhiana, October 29, 2018: The Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, today entered into agreement with Generation Seeds Private Limited, Patialafor commercialization of PSM 1 (Bell pepper) and PRO 7 (Onion) varieties. The MoA was signed by Dr Pushpinder Pal Singh Pannu, Additional Director of Research (NR and PHM) in the presence of Dr Navtej Singh Bains, Director Research, PAU and Dr. G.K. Sangha, Dean, CoBS&H on behalf of PAU while the same was done by representatives of Generation Seeds, Paramjit Singh Chandi and Gurwinder Singh. Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Head, Department of Vegetable Science, PAU informed that PRO 7 is an early maturing variety that has large red coloured bulbs. Its average yield is 160 quintals per acre and can be stored for longer period. Dr Salesh Jindal, Assistant Vegetable Breeder, Department of Vegetable Science added that the plants of PSM-1 are vigorous, tall and prolific bearers. The fruits are uniform, non-pungent, dark green and weigh 82 g each. The variety is able to produce seed in plains of Punjab. The variety is tolerant to high temperature and suitable for cultivation under both polynet house and low tunnel. Its average yield is 242 and 82 q per acre under polynet house and low tunnel, respectively. Dr. S.S. Chahal, Adjunct Professor, Technology Marketing and IPR Cell informed that PAU signed has 187 MoAs and commercialized 42 technologies including hybrid lines of mustard, chilli, brinjal, bio-fertilizers, leaf colour chart, water testing kit, products, apple cider, and technologies of PAU Cutter-cum-Spreader, Lucky Seed Drill, PAU Super SMS, PAU Happy Seeder, etc.

PAU STUDENT GETS BEST ORAL PRESENTATION AWARD
Mr Prashant Sahni, a Ph.D scholar in the Department of Food Science and Technology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has been awarded the “Best Oral Presentation Award” and a cash prize of Rs 5,000/- for his research entitled “Evaluation and Quality Assessment of Spirulina Enriched Functional Pasta” (by Prashant Sahni, Dr Arashdeep Singh, Dr Savita Sharma and Dr Baljit Singh). The award was presented during the 3rdHimachal Pradesh Science Congress for “Rural Upliftment Through Science and Technology Interventions,” organized by Himachal Pradesh Council of Science, Technology and Environment at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi, on October 22 and 23, 2018. Prashant is ICAR-Senior Research Fellow and pursuing his doctoral research under Dr Savita Sharma.

Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, congratulated the student. Dr Poonam A. Sachdev, Head, Department of Food Science and Technology, and Dr Savita Sharma also lauded the student and wished him all success in future.

PAU ALL SET TO HOLD FOOD INDUSTRY AND CRAFT MELA ON OCT. 30
The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is all set to hold “Food Industry and Craft Mela” on October 30 near Food Industry Business Incubation Centre, PAU, from 10 am to 9 pm. The mela will be organized by the Department of Processing and Food Engineering in association with the Department of Food Science and Technology, and Department of Food and Nutrition, PAU. It will be sponsored by Cremica (Platinum sponsors); AP Organic Pvt. Ltd.; National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Punjab; Coca-Cola, Ludhiana; Adani Agri Logistics; Elixir Technologies, Bangalore; United Phosphorus Ltd.; Verka Milk Plant, Ludhiana; and Jay Instruments, Mumbai.
Dr Mahesh Kumar, Head, Department of Processing and Food Engineering, said the University has been making efforts to transform the harvested produce for safer storage, value addition through agro processing to produce quality products that provide better nutrition and greater convenience to the society. In order to enhance coordination among all the stakeholders, the University is organizing this mela which has something for everybody in the family, he added. Delicious unadulterated food processed by entrepreneurs, trained by the Department of Processing and Food Engineering, will be sold, he informed. Visitors can also connect with food processing industry of the region, he said. The mela has a provision for shopping of solar appliances, vegetable seeds for farm and home gardens, ornamental plants, regional handicrafts and several attractive items of forthcoming Diwali gifts, he informed. The organizers have made special efforts for the attractions of children by including attractive games and competitions. The College of Home Science, PAU, is contributing handsomely to this mela through their entrepreneurial ventures in bakery, confectionery, art and craft, dress designing and arranging events like competitions, he said.
Dr P.S. Sidhu, Chief Medical Officer, Ludhiana, along with Dr Andesh Kang, District Health Officer, Ludhiana, have supported this food mela by providing mobile food adulteration testing van. This will create awareness among masses about issue of food adulteration, he observed. Dr Kumar said the mela aims at developing stronger connections with food processing industry so that a win-win situation can be fostered between academia- research and industry for the benefit of all including farmers.

DAY 5: STUDENTS GIVE SPLENDID PERFORMANCE AT PAU YOUTH FEST
Quiz and shabad gayan competitions marked the fifth day of Inter-College Youth Festival at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. Students demonstrated their vocal skills in shabad gayan competition, whereas in quiz, the alacrity and brisk eagerness of their minds was tested.
Dr Ravinder Kaur Dhaliwal, Director Students’ Welfare, PAU, who was the chief guest, applauded the splendid performance by participants in vast array of items.
Mr Satvir Singh, Supervisor, Cultural Activities, informed that the formal inauguration of the youth fest would be held on November 1 at Open Air Theatre, PAU. On the same day, competition in all music items would also be conducted, he added.
Results
Enu Making: 1) Sukhpreet Singh (College of Agriculture), 2) Sarabjeet Kaur (College of Agriculture) and 3) Parwinder Kaur (College of Home Science)
Peedi Making: 1) Sandeep Kaur (College of Agriculture), 2) Jaspreet Kaur (College of Home Science) and 3) Simranpreet Kaur (College of Home Science)
Clay Toys: 1) Manisha Kumari (College of Agricultural Engineering), 2) Amreet Kaur (College of Basic Sciences) and 3) Nidhi Uppal (College of Agriculture)
Shabad Gayan (solo): 1) Kanwarpal Singh (College of Agriculture), 2) Rohit Singh (College of Agriculture) and 3) Amanpreet Kaur (College of Home Science)
Shabad Gayan (group): 1) College of Agriculture, 2) College of Home Science and 3) College of Basic Sciences