Vegetable crops will ensure food & nutritional security, says expert

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, inaugurated the 43rd annual group meet of the ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on vegetable crops, bringing together distinguished scientists, researchers and policymakers for advancing scientific discourse, strengthening research collaborations and promoting innovations for sustainable development of vegetable crops in India.

A key highlight of the event was the conferring of the Best AICRP (Vegetable Crops) Coordinating Centre-2024 award to Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, as the top-performing centre of the country, recognising its outstanding contributions to vegetable crop research. Additionally, all vegetable scientists of the department were felicitated for their dedicated efforts.

Delivering the inaugural address, chief guest Dr SK Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), ICAR, New Delhi, underscored the critical role of vegetable crops in ensuring food and nutritional security. Expressing his admiration for the contributions of the PAU’s vegetable scientists, he acknowledged their dedication and hard work, stating that their varieties dominate the region, making a lasting impact on farmers and consumers alike.

Dr Singh emphasised that the AICRP research is a continuous process and advocated for a policy shift that allows scientists to continue working on specific crop projects for at least three to four years. This, he stressed, would enhance research viability and lead to more effective outcomes. He also urged scientists to recognise the long-term value of field and laboratory-generated data, even if its immediate application is not apparent.

“We live in an age of data analysis and data is power,” he remarked, emphasising the need for structured data utilisation in agricultural research. Focusing on climate change resilience, Dr Singh called for strengthening rootstock research to develop more adaptable vegetable varieties. He further advocated for integrating AI and robotics in vegetable research, stressing that cost-effective solutions must be designed to align with Indian agricultural systems. Highlighting the Finance Minister’s recent announcements, Dr Singh referred to the national mission on high-yielding seeds and urged universities to collaborate with policymakers by submitting recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture for inclusion in national programmes.

Applauding the establishment of the Makhana Board, he emphasised the need to popularise fox nut (makhana) cultivation due to its high-nutritional value and market potential. Dr Singh further urged researchers to prioritise indigenous vegetable varieties to promote organic farming and reduce dependency on chemical-based pest control.

He cautioned against excessive chemical use and advocated for integrating biomass into farming systems to enhance soil fertility and ecological balance. He also stressed the importance of preserving ethnic crops like bathua and methi, which are climate-resilient and nutritionally vital for vulnerable populations.

In his presidential remarks, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, Ludhiana, expressed deep appreciation for the collaborative research efforts that have propelled Punjab’s vegetable farming to new heights. Dr Gosal said the Department of Vegetable Science, established in the early 1970s, had been a driving force behind Punjab’s dominance in vegetable production, which surpassed other states due to the region’s rich soil and the adoption of cutting-edge technological advancements.