PAU inks pact for commercialisation of pumpkin

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 19

The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) inked a non-exclusive pact with VNR Seeds Private Limited, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, for the commercialisation of Punjab Nawab, a variety of pumpkin. Dr NS Bains, Director of Research, PAU and Gurmeet Singh Nanda, Regional Business Manager, VNR Seeds Private Limited, signed the memorandum of agreement (MoA).

Dr Ashok Kumar, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, lauded the proprietors for sharing the responsibility of disseminating technologies developed by PAU at the field level.

Dr MIS Gill, Additional Director of Research (Horticulture and Food Science), said the MoA between PAU and private sector seed companies is facilitating the dissemination of high yield and better quality varieties among the farmers. The variety has been developed jointly by Dr AS Dhatt, Professor and Head, Department of Vegetable Science, and Dr Abhishek Sharma, Virologist, PAU.

Dr Dhatt said, “This pumpkin variety (Punjab Nawab) is suitable during rainy season due to its tolerance against pumpkin yellow vein mosaic virus. Its fruits are medium sized, flat-round, mottled-green at immature stage and mottled-brown at maturity.