US farm expert visits PAU to strengthen collaboration

Ludhiana, November 13, 2014: Dr K.G Ragothama, Associate Director, International Programmes in Agriculture, Purdue University, USA visited the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today to deliberate on the scope of strengthening collaboration between the two institutes. His visit also aimed at holding talks on the establishment of the “PAU-Purdue University Joint Research Centre,” which has recently been initiated after the agreement, signed between PAU and College of Agriculture, Purdue University in August 2014. In addition, Dr Ragothama held a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of PAU, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon; and senior officers of the University. He also visited Dr G.S. Khush Laboratories, School of Agricultural Biotechnology (SAB), PAU.

Dr Dhillon said that the mutual cooperation between PAU and Purdue University will go a long way in imparting skill training and producing effective manpower in various disciplines of agricultural sciences.

Dr P.K. Khanna, Registrar, PAU, said that the University has identified three prime focus areas including exchange of student and faculty, and collaborative research for fortifying this partnership. The University will work out strategies to promote this bilateral cooperation, he said.

Dr Balwinder Singh, Director of Research, highlighted the on-going research programmes of PAU. For joint venture, he evinced interest in the areas of plant breeding, biotechnology and other mutually beneficial areas.

Dr Gursharan Singh, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, shed light on the international collaborations of PAU with Washington State University and Kansas State University, USA.  Discussing about the student exchange programme in detail, he said that there is a growing demand for business management people as in the near future nothing is possible without industry. He highlighted that five M.Sc/M.Tech pass outs of PAU have created a national record by bagging “ICAR International Fellowships.”

Dr Kuldeep Singh, Director, SAB explained about various research projects, underway at SAB, and wished to tie-up in biotechnology.

Dr Ragothama said that the major objective of his visit to PAU is to build strong relations with this farm university via many vehicles. The major vehicle is “PAU-Purdue University Joint Research Centre” under which education, research, training and participation of students are the thrust areas, he added. “We aim to build a research framework,” he said, while suggesting genetics, breeding and climate change as potential areas. Dr Ragothama further wished to work with the private sector. He emphasised on having flexible system in order to promote this cooperation.

Earlier welcoming the visiting member, Dr D.S. Brar, Adjunct Professor, SAB said that the major aim is to produce future scientists, possessing knowledge about innovative farm technologies. He stressed on conducting innovative research with which both the institutes can reap the benefit. Moreover, in present times, industry also wants people with innovative minds, he added. Besides, Dr Brar suggested the areas of microbiology, plant pathology, economics, etc. for strengthening the ties.

The visiting delegate also interacted with Dr J.S. Dhiman, Additional Director of Research (Natural Resource and Plant Health Management); Dr Parveen Chhuneja, Molecular Geneticist; Dr J.S. Sandhu, Biotechnologist; and the students of SAB.

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