PAU’s Micronutrients Project bags National Best Center Award

Ludhiana, July 3, 2023: The ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements (MSPE) in Soils and Plants, Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has been adjudged as the National Best Center for Excellent Research on Micronutrients and Heavy Metals (NBCER-MSPE). The award was bestowed upon the Center for its stellar performance during 2018-22 at the XXIX Biennial Workshop, held at the Odisha University of Agricultural and Technology, Bhubaneswar from June 23-25, 2023. The workshop was attended by Dr SS Dhaliwal, Dr Vivek Sharma, Dr Vicky Singh and Dr Manmeet Kaur.

Based on research on micronutrients and heavy metals from 2018-2022, the Ludhiana Center has been declared the National Best Center out of a total of 23 participating Centers. Interestingly, the Ludhiana Center bagged this prestigious award after 52 years since its inception at PAU, Ludhiana in 1970.

A Certificate of Appreciation was bagged by Dr SS Dhaliwal, Former Project Incharge (PI) alongwith scientists of micronutrients project of Ludhiana Center comprising Dr Velumuragan, ADG-ICAR, New Delhi; Dr AK Shukla, Vice-Chancellor, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior; Dr SK Sanyal, Former Vice Chancellor, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal; Dr PN Takkar, Founder Director of Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS), Bhopal; Dr SP Datta, Director, IISS, Bhopal and Dr SK Behera, Project Coordinator, IISS, Bhopal.

The Micronutrients Center flourished under the visionary approach of Dr Dhaliwal, who took over the reins as micronutrients Project Incharge in 2018. Under his stewardship, lots of technologies were generated in micronutrients, benefitting the Punjab State farmers which were appreciated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) at the national level.

Dr SS Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, congratulated Dr Dhaliwal, Former PI; Dr Vivek Sharma, present PI and his team for the stupendous achievement. “The ‘Best Centre Award reaffirms the supremacy of PAU as the apex of agricultural research on micronutrients and heavy metals,” said PAU VC.

Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research; Dr TS Riar, Additional Director Communication and Dr Dhanwinder Singh, Head, Department of Soil Science, congratulated the entire micronutrients project scientists for this outstanding achievement and wished them all success in future endeavours.