Agri varsity, GADVASU excelled in turbulent year

Retaining top spot and earning national as well as international recognition through the development of 13 crop varieties and their matching production-protection technologies and three new farm machines; featuring five scientists on Stanford University’s list; winning were the hallmark of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in 2024. Similarly, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) clinched second rank among veterinary universities in NIRF ranking, organised international workshop on stem cell, got new Vice-Chancellor, earned a patent on an Internet of Things (IoT) device for authentic milk yield recording among many other feats. At the same time, protests by students and teachers were also held.

Highs

• PAU emerged as number one among 75 agricultural universities in the country for the second consecutive year and third in the agriculture and allied sector category in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 rankings. GASVASU achieved a remarkable feat by securing the second position among veterinary universities in India according to the NIRF-2024 rankings. The varsity has not only excelled in its primary field but has also made significant strides in the broader agricultural category, ranking 24th among agricultural institutions.
• To effectively manage paddy straw, PAU developed a new technology: MittarSeeder, a low-cost, low-energy alternative to Super Seeder, for farmers who preferred soil incorporation of paddy straw. PAU also got approval for the Remote Drone Pilot Training Facility (RPTODrone Technology under the public sector in Punjab) under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
• Dr Jatinder Paul Singh Gill joined as the Vice-Chancellor of Veterinary University. Dr JPS Gill is a distinguished academician and eminent researcher with over 34 years of exceptional experience in veterinary sciences, research, and academic administration. At PAU, Dr Parveen Chhuneja, a distinguished scientist at PAU, scripted history by becoming the first woman from the university to be awarded the prestigious Fellowship of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA).
• GADVASU successfully secured a patent for an innovative method to automate and ensure authentic milk yield recording in the field conditions for dairy farmers practising hand milking in their dairy herds. This innovative solution leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technology for authentic milk recording. Three food technologists from PAU, Dr Amarjeet Kaur (retd), Dr Poonam Aggarwal Sachdev and Dr Akanksha Pahwa were granted patents on “Gluten-free whole grain flour composition and food products”.

Lows

The Punjab Agricultural Students Association in November went on protest to press for their demand to make agriculture a mandatory subject in schools across the state and reinstating the recruitment of agricultural teachers. nPAU teachers protested and organised rallies alleging that the state government and university administration had failed to address their pending issues. Their demands included revised allowances, gratuity and arrears as per the revised basic pay at par with public sector colleges and universities of Punjab.

• In September, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Retired Teachers Association (GADVASURTA) went on protest to press for the long pending demands of retired teachers of GADVASU. They were protesting against the implemented the revised UGC pay scales and pension w.e.f April 1, 2023 while in other universities and colleges it has been implemented w.e.f July 1, 2021.
• PAU continue to reel under staff shortage and has only 49 per cent of the 1,062 sanctioned scientist positions under state-funded schemes are filled, and similarly, just 35 per cent of the 3,723 sanctioned support staff positions are occupied, with only 1,304 staff members in place. Meanwhile at the veterinary university, 41% of the teaching (scientists) posts are vacant. Of the 426 teaching positions, only 250 are filled. For the supporting staff, 61 per cent posts were yet to be filled as the university employs a staff of 481 against a sanctioned strength of 1,218.