PAU CENTRES ON WHEAT, RICE AND VEGETABLES ADJUDGED AS BEST AT NATIONAL LEVEL

LUDHIANA, MARCH 19:-



The All India Coordinated Research Project Centres on Wheat, Rice, Vegetables and Rapeseed Mustard at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), have been adjudged as the best centres at the national level. The Board of Management of PAU in its 259th meeting hailed the outstanding achievements of the University scientists. The PAU Vice Chancellor, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, congratulated the University experts and exhorted them to continue with their sustained efforts of taking this renowned institution to the greater heights in future too.



The Director of Research of PAU, Dr S.S. Gosal highlighting the achievements of the University, said that this premiere institute, which is known for its vital role in ushering in an era of green revolution in India, is still contributing extensively to the research at the national level. It is an active player in the national agricultural research system (NARS). Informing that there are 45 All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) on different crops, operating at PAU, he disclosed that the research output generated by the scientists working in different AICRPs at PAU centre has been recently recognized at the national level.



Giving details, Dr Gosal said that PAU Centre on Rice has been conferred with the Best AICRIP Centre (Team) Award 2011-12 and a Certificate of Excellence for excellent research on rice. The Centre was adjudged as the best from among 47 centres of farm varsities and ICAR institutes. The PAU has so far released 35 rice varieties including 12 basmati varieties, he told, adding that the seeds of paddy varieties are in great demand among the neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.



The Wheat Centre of AICRP got the Best AICW&BIP Centre (ICAR Chaudhary Devi Lal Outstanding AICRP Award 2011) on account of its contributions, said Dr Gosal. Wheat improvement programme at PAU is one of the most dynamic and productive and commands a major share in varietal release and adoption at the national level. During 2006-07 to 2010-11, eight varieties including five of bread wheat (PBW 533, PBW 550, PBW 590, PBW 596, PBW 621) and one each of durum (PDW 314) , triticale (TL 2942) and barley (PL 751), were released for wheat zones NHZ, NWPZ, CZ and PZ of India. The University has done a landmark research on developing wheat resistant to Karnal bunt and rusts.



In vegetables, the PAU got the Lt. Amit Singh Memorial Award for Best AICRP Centre. The University Centre was selected for this award from among 29 centres of agricultural universities and ICAR institutes for distinction in research and dissemination of technologies to the farmers. So far, the PAU has evolved and released 146 improved varieties/hybrids of different vegetables, 31 of which have been identified under AICRP in different regions of the country. Recently, two PAU hybrids of brinjal (PBH-3 and PBHL -51) were identified for Zone IV and VI of the country, said Dr Gosal.



On the basis of the research, publications, conduct of trials, breeding material generated and the overall support to the AICRP (Rapeseed mustard) programme, the PAU Centre was rated as the best centre, informed Dr Gosal. He further shared that for promoting the use of zinc in Indian agriculture soil, the PAU scientists working under the AICRP have been recognized with International Zinc Association-Fertilizer Association of India (IZA-FAI) Award (2012).


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