New posting for Dr Riar

Dr Tejinder Singh Riar, Professor of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has joined as Associate Director, Skill Development, PAU. Dr Riar has taught 47 postgraduate courses and 76 undergraduate courses on extension training, extension administration, communication process and philosophy of extension education. He has 23 research papers, 11 books, 21 bulletins and 58 popular articles to his credit. His research findings relating to group cohesiveness functioning of farmers’ organisations and evaluation of training programmes can be applied for the improvement of various extension programmes. Dr Riar has been instrumental in organising and coordinating 759 training programmes/courses for the farmers, farm women and extension functionaries/personnel. He has been the in charge of Kairon Kisan Ghar at the PAU where farmers and extension personnel from Punjab and other states come and stay.

US delegation interacts with staff

21 delegates from the US, under Montana State University’s Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership (REAL) Extension Programme, visited the university on Monday and held discussions with officers, heads of departments and faculty members. The group, comprising educationists, entrepreneurs, agriculturists and government and extension functionaries was briefed about the PAU’s research and extension activities by Dr KS Thind, Additional Director of Research, Crop Improvement. They were made aware about the university’s campaign on in-situ paddy residue management involving development of farm machinery, extension lectures and demonstrations during farmers’ training programmes. The visitors were intrigued by farmers’ methods of fertiliser broadcasting, product marketing channels to facilitate sale of produce and shift of mindset from gross income to profitability. Programme Coordinator, REAL Montana, Tara Becken revealed that challenges and success involved while working with farmers were almost the same in both countries.

Alumni meet

The College of Home Science will be holding its first Annual Alumni Meet on November 14 under the stewardship of Dr Jatinder Kaur Gulati, Dean of the College. More than 250 alumni from across the globe are expected to attend the meet. On the occasion, the Alumni Association of the College will honour some of the achievers to motivate the students of the college to work hard and achieve greater heights. Some of the entrepreneurs trained by the college and enterprising alumni will also be displaying and selling their products. — TNS