Workshop on Biotechnology begins at PAU

Ludhiana, March 17, 2015: The “Second Workshop of Deans’ Expert Committee on Biotechnology under Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Fifth Deans’ Committee” began at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. A total of 16 members of Deans’ Expert Committee from state agricultural universities of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Chennai, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, are participating in the two-day workshop. On the occasion, Dr D.S. Brar, Adjunct Professor, School of Agricultural Biotechnology, PAU was a special guest.

In his presidential address, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice- Chancellor, PAU said, “Biotechnology has established itself in the country and it is evident from the success of Bt cotton in India.” He said there is a need to focus on revising course curricula of biotechnology and its application. “Focus on the source of gene and its effect, and the host crop is equally important in biotechnology,” he added. Dr Dhillon also talked about human resource development and GM technology.

Earlier, Dr H.S. Dhaliwal, Dean, College of Agriculture; Convener of the Deans' Expert Committee on Biotechnology; and Core Member of the ICAR’s Fifth Deans' Committee, welcomed the dignitaries, members of the committee and heads of different departments of PAU. Presenting an overview of the workshop, he said this meet aims at finalizing course contents for undergraduate degree programme on biotechnology, and forwarding the same to ICAR for implementation. The major objective of the workshop is also to make biotechnology more comprehensive and result oriented, he added.

Dr R.K. Gumber, Additional Director of Research (Crop Improvement), while proposing the vote of thanks, said that the workshop will see deliberations on finalisation of contents for biotechnology core courses as well as elective courses.