344 conferred degrees at PAU

Tribune news service

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Ludhiana, July 24

A total of 344 students, who passed out from PhD, MSc, MTech, MCA, MBA and MJMC in the session 2017-18, received degrees at the annual convocation of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. Besides, as many as 70 students were awarded merit certificates, 16 gold medals and one award. Fourteen scientists were also conferred with awards and citations.

The chief guest of the convocation, VP Singh Badnore, Governor of Punjab and Chancellor of PAU, congratulated the degree recipients.

In addition to technology and agro-processing, aggregation of the fixed inputs and produce by a group of farmers will be helpful to achieve this goal, he observed. PAU should also facilitate in the formation of the Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to achieve economies of scale in the use of farm machinery and sale of produce, he suggested. The Governor also made a call for zero-budget farming. Badnore asked students to make farming a way of life that brings dignity and prosperity.

Presenting the convocation report of 2017-18, Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, threw light on research, teaching and extension programmes as well as achievements of the university.

The awards recipients on the occasion were Shivani Nayyar, who was felicitated the Dr Avtar Singh Atwal Gold Medal. Gurwant Singh and Gurbir Singh, both received the Sardar Kartar Singh Kahlon Gold Medal, Shivani Palial was awarded the Dr Gurmail Singh Dhaliwal Medal, while Ajaypal Singh Brar was presented the Dr Gurbakhsh Singh Gill Medal.

Harmandeep Singh was awarded the Dr Sardar Singh Medal, Sukhpreet Singh was given the Dr Narinder Singh Randhawa Medal, Manjot Kaur was conferred the Sardar Bahadur Lal Singh Medal and Neha Kharkwal won the Dr K Kirpal Singh Medal. Khushpreet Kaur was presented the Dr GS Sidhu Medal, Manpreet Kaur was given the Lala Sri Ram Ji Medal, Aditi Sewak was awarded the Dr Jugraj Singh Dhillon Medal, while Jaspreet Kaur Grewal bagged the Dr Bhupinder Singh Sekhon Medal.

Ishwinder Kamboj was conferred the Plant Pathology Alumni Medal, while Khushboo was presented the Alumni Gold Medal and Dinesh Kumar Saini won the Dr MS Randhawa Medal. Ruchika was awarded the Dr Sukhdev Singh Prize for best essay and oration.

Besides, PAU scientists Dr RK Dhall, an olericulturist; Dr Thakar Singh, senior agronomist; Dr Manmohanjit Singh, director, Regional Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri; and Dr GS Kocher, senior microbiologist, were conferred with the Hans Raj Pahwa Memorial Award 2016-17, Dr Harcharan Singh Sandhu Memorial Award 2016-17, Best Outstation Scientist Award 2017-18 and the Award of Plaque and Merit Certificate 2017-18, respectively.

Dr Amarjit Kaur, senior milling technologist, and Dr Poonam A Sachdev, head of the Department of Food Science and Technology, were awarded cash awards and citation for the development of blended fruit juices and bottling of sugarcane juice technology. Manpreet Singh, assistant agricultural engineer; HS Sidhu, senior research engineer; Rajesh Goyal, assistant engineer; GS Manes, senior research engineer; Manjeet Singh, head of the Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering; and Aseem Verma, assistant research engineer, were awarded cash awards and citation for the development of PAU Super Straw Management System (PAU Super SMS).

SK Jindal, assistant vegetable breeder and DS Cheema, former dean of College of Agriculture, were awarded cash awards.