LUDHIANA, FEBRUARY 3 : A five-member delegation from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, USA, visited the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. The delegation of Group Study Exchange Team of USA was led by Wendy S. Marcus and comprised members namely Yulia V. Yelle, Paul J. Fox, Joy E. Fox and Anna Elizabeth Haas. They held an interactive meeting wherein the PAU Dean of Postgraduate Studies (PGS), College of Home Science (COHS), Additional Director of Communication, Additional Director of Extension Education and Associate Director of Research (ADR) participated.
Mr S.P. Karkara, former PAU Registrar, who led the delegation to PAU said that the visitors held PAU in great esteem and evinced keen interest in the PAU programmes. He added that PAU made a great contribution in nation building. The PAU faculty have done exceedingly well not only in academics but in sports, cultural activities and other fields, he said.
The Dean PGS, Dr Gursharan Singh said that university is celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2012. The PAU played a prominent role in heralding green revolution, thereby transforming the nation from food-deficit to food-sufficient. He apprised the delegates of the PAU’s organizational set-up, research achievements, international linkages and highlighted that the University has a major mandate of research, teaching and transfer technology. Informing that the PAU is modeled on the pattern of Land Grant Universities of USA, Dr Singh told that university is the most preferred destination for foreign students. About 700 crop varieties and hybrids have been released till date by the university, divulged he and highlighted that the University lays emphasis on technologies aimed at conservation of natural resources.
Ms Wendy S. Marcus said that their visit to the PAU aimed at getting an exposure to the agricultural and human resource development programmes at PAU. She told, “The Group Study Exchange team consists of young professionals from different fields. Indians are also joining the team in the USA where they are familiarized with economics, business, farming and various other occupations.” Hailing the contribution of the PAU to the nation, Ms Marcus said that their focus is also on gathering a know-how of scientific farming and the Indian food production programmes. The delegation members said that their area of thrust is vocational exchange and to equip themselves with the understanding of different professions. They evinced keen interest in PAU’s transfer of technology programmes, Kisan Melas, farm literature, household practices and various academic programmes.
Dr Neelam Grewal, Dean, COHS, said that PAU imparts professional training to the farm women and improve their quality of life through drudgery reduction and better living. She briefed the delegation about the home science academic programmes. The girl students of the college visit rural areas as a part of their academic curriculum, adopt families and disseminate knowledge at the family as well as community level, informed she. Dr Grewal said that the COHS is working with various organizations for the benefit of the students and the rural women.
Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman, Additional Director Communication, said that farming community has a very close relationship with the PAU experts. All the PAU varieties released by the PAU have been well-received by the Indian farmers and abroad. Highlighting the achievements of the university, he said that the PAU has the credit of producing a large number of Vice-Chancellors across the country. He informed that the PAU makes its programmes as per the needs of the farmers and that many of the PAU Committees have participation by farmers. He presented an overview about PAU farm literature.
Dr H.S. Dhaliwal, Additional Director of Extension Education, explained the extension set-up of PAU with the functioning of 17 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and 11 Farm Advisory Service Scheme (FASS) of the PAU, located in different parts of Punjab. These hubs are instrumental for transfer of technology (ToT) through on-farm trials, adaptive research trials, front line demonstrations, trainings, campaigns, Kisan Melas, sale of farm literature and through print and electronic media, he told.
The delegation members interacted with the Heads of various Departments of COHS. The home scientists told that their entire focus is on capacity building and empowerment of rural women. They visited the Museum of Social History and Rural Life of Punjab and laboratories of different departments of the COHS. The delegation members were presented with information brochure about PAU.
