Shaheed Bhagat Singh remembered

Ludhiana: Over 150 students of the Young Writers’ Association PAU, Ludhiana, marked the birth anniversary of the martyr, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, in the form of a literary evening-cum-interactive-session with participants displaying talents of poetry, songs, quiz, documentary movie and one street play.

Dr Jagmohan Singh, nephew of the great freedom fighter, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, interacted with the participants and shared lesser known facts from the martyr’s life and struggle. He also highlighted the issues from the society, agriculture and history. “We have a lot to learn from Shaheed Bhagat Singh, because he always talked about equality, importance of education, languages and complete freedom.” said Dr Singh. Dr Ravinder Kaur Dhaliwal, Director Students’ Welfare, PAU, who presided over the function said students must take inspiration from Shaheed Bhagat Singh and start reading at least one book along with their course curriculum. She also appreciated the students’ efforts towards making the event successful.

PAU signs MoA with four companies for paddy straw 

The Punjab Agricultural University has signed an agreement with four industries for commercialisation of ‘PAU Super SMS Technology’. Dr Navtej Singh Bains, Director of Research, PAU, and representatives of the industries signed the MoA on behalf of their respective organisations. Dr Bains said a subsidy of Rs. 50,000 was being given per attachment to the farmers for installation of Super SMS with their combine harvesters. Dr Manjeet Singh, Head, Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, informed the ‘PAU Super SMS’ is a unique attachment for combine harvesters which cuts, chops and uniformly spreads loose straw coming out of the harvester during harvesting of paddy. “It may be mentioned that till date 18 organisations have taken the license of the SMS technology, informed Dr SS Chahal, Director, Technology Marketing and IPR Cell, PAU. 

The PAU has also signed agreements with more than 60 companies for commercialisation of seed, hybrids, varieties, bio pesticides, bio fertilisers, food product technologies, PAU cutter-cum-spreader technology, pro-biotic beverages from carrots, fruits and vegetable juices, kaddu chutney technology, mushroom processing technology, gluten free atta, multi grain atta for diabetics technology, lucky seed drill, bottling of sugarcane juice technology and the PGPR culture.

Oilseeds make a comeback

Coming back to the basics is the mantra for good health and, surprisingly oilseeds, which were consumed by people long ago, have once again made a comeback. Flex seeds, sesame seeds, peanuts all are back on the platter.

During the recently conducted Kissan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University, the stall by the Department of Food and Nutrition advocated the consumption of oilseeds by making various products out of these for a healthy heart and body.

“Oilseeds are not only good source of protein but also concentrated source of energy. The protein in oilseeds can be consumed either as a part of oil intact seed or as a meal from which oil has been extracted. Oilseeds add an important nutritional value to the diet due to high quality protein and vegetable oil together with oil soluble vitamins like Vitamin A,” said Renuka Aggarwal from the Department of Food and Nutrition. — TNS