LUDHIANA, MAY 16: Agricultural heritage in Punjab is globally important. This was stated by Dr. M.S.Swaminathan, Member of Parliament and an eminent agricultural scientist, while interacting with the PAU Vice Chancellor, Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon during his visit to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), today. He appreciated that Punjab has attained an all time high procurement of wheat, this season, that will enable Punjab to contribute more toward the national pool of foodgrains reserves. Plenty of foodgrains, sometimes lead to problem of storage and handling, said Dr. Swaminathan who is on tour to Punjab markets to assess the market arrivals of wheat. Those who participated in the discussion were: Dr. Manjit Singh Kang, former PAU Vice Chancellor, Dr. S.S.Gosal, Director of Research, Dr. Neelam Grewal, Dean, College of Home Science, Dr. Jagtar Singh Dhiman, Additional Director of Communication, and Dr. M.S.Sidhu, Head, Department of Economics and Sociology. Various issues that came into discussion included storage of foodgrains, scarcity of water, role of women in agriculture, nutritional security of the masses, etc.
Welcoming Dr. Swaminathan, Dr. Dhillon highlighted the research, education and technology transfer agenda of PAU for the coming years. He said that the procurement of wheat to the tune of 125 lakh tons is a matter of honour for the farmers, farm scientists of PAU and the extension personnel of the Department of Agriculture, Punjab. They made concerted efforts to achieve this rare feat. Stupendous efforts were also made to ensure hassle free, prompt and smooth procurement despite the inclement weather at the very start of the arrival of wheat in the Mandis, said Dr. Dhillon adding that with recent high procurement, once again, Punjab will be a proud state to contribute all time high wheat share into the Central pool due to a bumper production. Dr. Dhillon presented a docket of information brochures about PAU to Dr. Swaminathan.
Dr. Swaminathan was shown around the PAU Museum of Social History of Punjab. He lauded the role played by the former PAU Vice Chancellor and a culture connoisseur Dr. M.S.Randhawa for establishing the Museum on the PAU Campus that is a great attraction for the visitors. Dr. Swaminathan has already supported the further development of the Museum out of MPLAD fund. While apprising him of the developmental plan of the Museum, Dr. Grewal highlighted that the proposal for its further development and expansion will be drafted in phased manner after completing the necessary formalities including the approval from the Archeological Survey of India. Dr. Swaminathan remembered Dr. B.N.Uppal who created a Museum of Water Resources of Northern India on the PAU Campus. Such Museums are landmarks on the campus and need to be developed further, said he.
