ICAR Dy DG visits PAU, praises advances in horticultural research
Dr Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticulture Science) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), visited Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Friday to explore its state-of-the-art research facilities dedicated to advancing horticultural and agricultural sciences. He was accompanied by PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, Director of Research Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Dean Post Graduate Studies Dr MIS Gill, and Additional Director Extension Education Dr Tarsem Singh Dhillon.
The visit began at the Speed Breeding Facility in the School of Agricultural Biotechnology, where Dr Parveen Chhuneja provided an in-depth overview of the controlled-environment system designed to accelerate crop breeding cycles. Dr Singh showed keen interest in the facility’s role in developing climate-resilient and nutritionally enriched crop varieties.
The delegation then visited PAU’s Potato Aeroponics Unit, a pioneering facility revolutionising tuber research. Recognising the importance of aeroponics in producing high-quality seed potatoes with minimal disease incidence, Dr Singh commended the university’s commitment to leveraging advanced propagation techniques to enhance productivity and food security.
A major highlight of the visit was the Vegetable Demonstration Farm, where Dr Tarsem Singh Dhillon showcased innovative production technologies and high-yielding vegetable varieties with superior nutritional traits and adaptability. Dr Singh acknowledged PAU’s remarkable contributions to vegetable breeding and emphasised the need for further collaborations in developing climate-smart and biofortified cultivars.
At the Integrated Farming System (IFS) unit, Dr SS Walia, Head, Department of Organic Agriculture, introduced the visitors to PAU’s holistic approach to sustainable agriculture.
Dr Singh lauded the university’s relentless efforts in horticultural and agricultural advancements. He assured full support from ICAR in fostering further research collaborations, technology dissemination, and policy integration to benefit farmers across India.
Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal expressed gratitude for Dr Singh’s visit and reaffirmed PAU’s commitment to driving agricultural excellence through research, technology, and farmer-centric initiatives.
