PAU Holds Monthly Review Meeting on Research
Ludhiana, January 2, 2025 (Sita)
The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, convened its Monthly Review Meeting for Research and Extension Work on January 2, 2025, in the Conference Hall of the Dr. Khem Singh Gill Farmers’ Service Centre. The meeting, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, brought together deans, directors, faculty, and extension scientists from PAU’s main campus, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and research stations.
Dr. Gosal in his remarks extended New Year greetings and commended the faculty for their achievements in 2024, including securing a historic Rs. 40-crore grant from the Punjab Government for research infrastructure, and PAU’s continued top ranking among 75 agricultural universities in the NIRF 2024. He motivated the team to direct their research towards sustainability and farmer welfare, emphasizing innovation and collaboration. Dr. Gosal called for advancing digitized agriculture, promoting sustainable practices like zero-burn farming, and strengthening inclusivity and gender equality within the university. He urged the faculty to use past achievements as a foundation for future progress.
Key university figures shared their insights and plans for 2025, with Dr. Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research, highlighting innovative strategies to address agricultural and environmental challenges, and Dr. Makhan Singh Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, emphasizing initiatives to improve farmer incomes, ensure food security, and enhance rural livelihoods.
The meeting included a comprehensive review of the Action Taken Report from the previous month, presented by Dr. GPS Sodhi, Additional Director of Extension Education. Discussions centred around key issues such as the survey and biocontrol management of Pink Stem Borer in wheat, addressing sudden senescence of cotton and pest management strategies, discouraging spring maize cultivation, and promoting paddy straw management, bio-fertilizer sales, and the cultivation of oilseeds and pulses.
The agenda featured expert presentations by Dr. Beant Singh, Principal Entomologist, on rice straw management, Dr. Amarjit Singh, Principal Extension Specialist (Plant Protection), on the management of yellow rust and vegetable diseases, and Dr. Hari Ram, Head of Agronomy, on addressing yellowing in wheat crops. Feedback from extension scientists further enriched the discussions by providing valuable insights for improving field-level implementation and farmer outreach.
The meeting concluded with a renewed resolve to address pressing challenges, advance sustainable practices, and build on PAU’s legacy of excellence in agriculture.
