PAU hosts workshop on horticultural crops with focus on varieties like avocado, raspberry

In a significant move to shift Punjab’s agricultural focus from the traditional wheat-paddy cycle to horticulture, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) launched a two-day “Research and Extension Specialists’ Workshop for Horticultural Crops” today.

The event, organised by PAU’s Directorate of Extension Education, was attended by officials from the Punjab Department of Horticulture, scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Farm Advisory Service Centres, district extension specialists, and PAU faculty.

In his inaugural address, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor of PAU, highlighted the growing importance of horticultural crops in Punjab’s agriculture, calling the workshop a major boost to the cultivation, protection, and production technologies of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and agro-forestry.

He stressed the promotion of nutritional enhancement through crops like citrus, guava, and dragon fruit and cited the success of ongoing research on avocado, blueberry, and the large-scale adoption of strawberry cultivation in the state.

Dr Gosal also emphasised the need for increasing seed production of potato and expanding research into new vegetable varieties. He mentioned the success of PAU’s potato breeding programme at the Kellong station, the establishment of the Spring Garden at PAU, and the development of new flower varieties with a focus on post-harvest management.

Dr Harpreet Singh Sethi, Deputy Director of Horticulture, Punjab, praised PAU’s efforts in promoting horticulture for crop diversification and economic growth in the state.

He noted that the area under horticulture cultivation had increased significantly in the past year, with the establishment of Pear and Litchi Processing Centres in Amritsar and Pathankot, and a Hydroponics Unit in Jalandhar. He also highlighted state government schemes aimed at supporting farmers, including small-scale mushroom units and strengthened marketing of agricultural products.

Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research, PAU, shared details of newly developed varieties, including Punjab Potato 103 and 104, PGAC 25-17 of cauliflower, PCO 4 of orange carrot, and various French bean varieties. He also spoke about innovations in fruit crops, such as the Punjab Raspberry varieties and Flame of grapefruit, and in flowers, such as PG 20-14 gladiolus and new chrysanthemum varieties.

The workshop aimed to enhance the adoption of horticultural practices and technologies among farmers in Punjab, contributing to crop diversification and boosting the state’s horticultural industry.