Ludhiana, 30 Sept 2015 (Bharat Sandesh News):– The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has added another feather to its cap by winning the coveted “Agricultural Leadership Award 2015.” The Hon’ble Union Home Minister, Sh. Rajnath Singh presented the award to the PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon in a glittering ceremony, held in New Delhi on September 18, 2015. His Excellency, Shri Kaptan Singh Solanki, the Governor of Punjab and Haryana as well the legendary agricultural scientist and Father of Green Revolution in India, Dr M.S. Swaminathan also graced the occasion. The award has been bestowed on the University in recognition of its pivotal role played in heralding the Green Revolution, which designated the Punjab state the “Bread Bowl of the Country.”
The citation of the award also recognized the development of high yielding varieties developed by PAU, its emphasis on conservation of soil and water resources, integrated pest management, farm mechanization, agro-processing and value addition. Its focus on quality human resource development and efficient transfer of technology was also acknowledged as were the initiatives taken for strengthening the teaching programmes such as inclusion of eminent scientists, working abroad, as co-guides on the Advisory Committee of the Ph.D. students to give them an international exposure. Further, in order to break the inbreeding barrier, the University has started sending Ph.D. students to other universities for one-semester. The Institutes of Agriculture have been set-up at Gurdaspur as well as Bathinda to attract the rural students towards agricultural education. To give a push to the extension education programmes, a new concept of ‘PAU Doot’ has been initiated and a large number of such Doots, having internet linkages for faster dissemination of knowledge, have been enrolled across the state. As an indicator of quality research, PAU has been ranked first among the Agricultural Universities in 2014 for research publications as per Indian Citation Index database. The University, with its high impact academic programmes, has set ever higher standards in academics at the national level.
Receiving the award on behalf of the University, Dr Dhillon graciously acknowledged the important role played by all the personnel, engaged in teaching, research and extension programmes at PAU. He also appreciated the immense faith reposed by the farmers of the state as well as the region in the technologies developed by PAU. Besides, he lauded the timely and productive support rendered by the State leadership in all its endeavors. Dr P.K. Khanna, Registrar; Dr (Mrs) Neelam Grewal, Dean, PGS and Dr R.K. Gumber, Additional Director of Research (Crop Improvement) also represented the University.
