Palampur -- campus roundup

Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University

Ravinder Sood

Palampur August 28

Manure from congress grass good for gardens

Dr Ashok Kumar Sarial, Vice-Chancellor, agriculture university, has called for concerted efforts to control parthenium (congress grass), an obnoxious weed which is widespread in the state. He said weeds like parthenium reduce crop yields. But such weeds could be put to use by making its organic manure. Such manure could be used in kitchen garden to grow vegetables and also in the gardens of schools. He asked the students to make their parents and villagers aware about the harmful effects of weeds and help them by uprooting it.

The Vice-Chancellor also suggested teachers that weeds eradication campaign could be initiated in schools to make the surroundings beautiful and eradicate harmful weeds. He appreciated the efforts of scientists for creating awareness about such obnoxious weeds and asked the farmers to eradicate weeds from their fields. Prof Sarial also distributed prizes to the winners of various competitions organized to mark the occasion.

Clinical facilities to farmers

The Department of Veterinary Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Dr GC Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HP Agricultural University, Palampur, provides clinical facilities to farmers in the areas of female infertility, obstetrics and andrology.

For the past 5 years, this department has bagged 10 research projects worth Rs 330.5 lakh. The main emphasis of research has been on studying the reproductive problems of cows and buffaloes reared by farmers and also of abandoned cows. The area of these studies has been the entire state with an aim to conducting research on epidemiology, etiology, management and suggesting curative measures for various reproductive disorders prevalent in different agro climatic zones of the state.

The department is rendering specialised services to farmers for treatment of various reproductive disorders. Since 2013, scientists from the department have organised 125 infertility treatment camps under the RKVY project in the state, including 32 camps in tribal areas of Pangi, Bharmaur, Lahaul & Spiti and Kinnaur and also some very remote locations like trans-giri villages of Sirmaur, Dodra-Kwar (Shimla), Janjehli (Mandi), Barsheni (Kulu) and Kihar (Chamba) etc. More than 2,500 animals with reproductive ailments have been examined and treated in these camps. Russian sea buckthorn **

The university will introduce thornless high-yielding Russian sea buckthorn varieties in Lauhal-Spiti and other tribal areas. Earlier, the university has provided a local mild thorny and high-yielding local sea buckthorn cultivar “Drilbu”, quite rich in vitamin C, to growers. This variety was planted by 350 farmers in 100 hectares in upper areas of Lahaul under an ICAR-funded National Agriculture Innovation Project.

On the demands of local farmers, the HPAU has now imported seeds of seven thornless Russian varieties through the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources. “The Centre has also sanctioned Rs 38 lakh for the project to the university to test and evaluate these Russian varieties at the university farm at Kukumseri in Lahaul,” says Dr Virendra Singh, Principal Investigator.

Dr Virendra Singh says these varieties have been successfully cultivated by farmers in 30 countries like China, Mongolia, Sweden, the USA, Canada, Germany and Finland. He said the university was the first in the country to have imported Russian varieties.

Ragging-free campus

Adequate steps have been taken to stop the menace of ragging as per the directions of the Supreme Court and the government. The university has the glorious tradition of ragging-free campus for the last over eight years and will ensure that this convention continues in this academic session and in future as well.

Welcoming new students, the Vice-Chancellor stressed students to work hard and excel in life. Dr Kamlesh Singh, Students’ Welfare Officer-cum Dean College of Basic Sciences, underlined the importance of self-discipline and proper planning for bright future.