‘Father of Super Rice’ Padma Shri Gurdev Singh Khush visits Ludhiana vet varsity
The Veterinary and Livestock Innovation and Incubation Foundation (VLIIF), a Section 8 company of the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, hosted the ‘Father of Super Rice’, Padma Shri Gurdev Singh Khush, and Sukhpal Singh, Chairman, Punjab State Farmers’ & Farm Workers’ Commission, Punjab, along with other eminent scientists and policy leaders on Tuesday.
Welcoming the dignitaries, Jatinder Paul Singh Gill, Vice-Chancellor, shared the vision of VLIIF in fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and scalable solutions across veterinary, dairy and allied sectors. He highlighted the university’s proactive role in creating an enabling ecosystem for startups and innovators. Gill emphasised the university’s strong commitment to bridging research, industry and entrepreneurship to address real-world challenges and deliver impactful, sustainable solutions for the livestock sector.
Khush lauded the institute for establishing a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem that effectively nurtures startups in the livestock sector and appreciated the focus on innovation-driven and research-backed solutions aligned with industry needs. “Such initiatives play a crucial role in generating rural employment, empowering youth and strengthening the agri-livestock economy, while also encouraging sustainable development and enhancing farmers’ livelihoods across the country,” he said.
Professor Sukhpal Singh emphasised the importance of strengthening farmer-centric startups, improving value chains and ensuring sustainable income for farmers. He also stressed on the need for strong linkages between research, policy and grassroots implementation. RS Sethi, Director, VLIIF, said that the organisation’s Inclusive Technology Business Incubator (ITBI) – NIDHI Dairy Innovation and Incubation Centre had emerged as a pioneering platform for dairy innovation. Hosting over 20 startups, it offers seed support, prototyping, mentoring and market linkages. He added that VLIIF also provided ignition grants up to Rs 10 lakh to promote early-stage, research-driven ventures.
VLIIF incubatees, including Dr Kulvinder Singh Gill (APA Work Pvt Ltd) and Dr Pankaj Navani (Frontrunners Farms India Pvt Ltd), showcased their startup profiles and expressed satisfaction with the supportive ecosystem and collaborative environment at VLIIF. The occasion saw participation from distinguished experts, including Dr Vikram Singh Gill, eminent plant breeder from the USA, and Dr Johar Singh Saini, Senior Plant Breeder, PAU.
