PAU signs agreement with industry

Ludhiana: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has entered into an agreement with Amrik Agricultural Industries, Batala, for commercialisation of “PAU Cutter cum Spreader” technology.

Dr Navtej Singh Bains, Director of Research, PAU, and representative of Amrik Agricultural Industries, signed the MoA on behalf of their respective organisations in the presence of the PAU Vice Chancellor, Dr BS Dhillon.

Dr Bains informed the “PAU Cutter-cum-Spreader” which is now available for Rs 40,000 is a low cost and practically applicable technology for cutting, chopping and uniform spreading of paddy straw in combine harvested paddy fields. The machine has a low running cost and can be operated with 35 to 40 HP tractors with capacity of 2 acres per hour. The machine will facilitate the operations of other straw management machinery like “PAU Happy Seeder” and mould board plough which will ultimately halt paddy straw burning and help farmers to enhance the soil productivity with paddy straw management. This is the university’s second MoA for commercialisation of ‘PAU Cutter cum Spreader’ technology.

ICAR official to review straw management technology

Dr C Roul, Joint Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), visited Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Monday to review the paddy straw management options being provided to the farmers. He interacted with Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, and other officials of the university. Dr Roul appreciated the efforts of the PAU in developing straw management technologies.

He stressed on changing the mindsets of the farmers and encouraging them to adopt straw management machinery for protection of the environment. He also visited Ladhowal Seed Farm, Ludhiana, to see the demonstrations of straw management machinery, especially, Happy Seeder.

Dr Dhillon said all straw management technologies have been developed by the PAU. — TNS