ICAR lauds PAU’s fruit nursery programme

Dr SK Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, visited the Citrus Nursery at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to assess the on-going fruit nursery initiatives taken up by the university.

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He was accompanied by Dr SS Gosal, PAU Vice-Chancellor; Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research; Dr MIS Gill, Dean Post Graduate Studies; and Dr TS Dhillon, Additional Director of Extension. Dr HS Rattanpal, Head of the Department of Fruit Science; Dr Harminder Singh, Principal Fruit Scientist; and Dr Anirudh Thakur, Professor were also present during the visit. Dr Singh praised the university’s efforts in providing high-quality planting material to farmers.

PAU VC Dr Gosal shared with the dignitary that PAU operates nine fruit nurseries across Punjab, supplying standard and disease-free plants to enhance fruit production. During their interaction, Dr Singh and Dr Gosal emphasised that sustainable fruit production relies on genuine, healthy, and high-quality planting material of recommended varieties.

Acknowledging the scientific approach adopted by PAU to prevent bud-transmissible diseases and root rot in citrus nursery plants, Dr Singh assured continued support from ICAR to strengthen PAU’s nursery production programme.