Ludhiana December 31
If 2005 saw Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) forge new partnerships in its pursuit to ensure food and nutritional security, in 2006 the nation recognised "the pioneering role of PAU in stabilising and strengthening the agriculture and economy of Punjab". For this, a special grant of Rs 100 crore was given to the university. paw also got another grant of Rs 8.5 crore from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, to establish a "Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Biotechnology". Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.S. Aulakh, remarked "We still have a long way to go".
Another important milestone of the PAU in 2006 were the achievements in research. Since its inception, the PAU has released over 525 varieties and hybrids of crops, several of which gained national and international recognition. Besides the application of conventional approaches, PAU also continued to standardise protocols in order to produce commercially-acceptable transgenic varieties of rice, sugarcane and cotton.
The university has drawn up a roadmap of strategies to be adopted in the future to meet the nation's requirements. Dr Aulakh said that the PAU has identified seven key areas that support national endeavours in ensuring food security.
The University will focus on cash crops to cut on India's import bill, enhance farm productivity and increase the incomes of farmers. The efforts will also be aimed at bringing about a sustainable prosperity to the courtyard of small farmers.
The grant will be used to bring about cost-effective production technologies that are relevant to different agro-climatic zones of the state. At the same time, multi-location testing and region-specific research will also be undertaken. "All this will mean linking-up of research laboratories with lecture theatres and land", Dr Aulakh added.
The focus will also be on human resource development, assimilation and elimination of departments to avoid duplication of research, rather to coordinate it.
The visit of Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram at the PAU convocation on October 31, 2006, was memorable as he not only acknowledged the contribution of PAU, but also called upon the university’s scientists and scholars to" draw an ambitious blue print for Indian agriculture in the 21st century, where farming should not be considered drudgery, but an occupation of choice and profit that brings dignity and prosperity to farmers".
PAU scientists also believe that enhancing productivity in farming, is an immediate challenge faced by India. For this, all state agricultural universities must adopt "genetic sciences" to achieve higher production levels.
Acknowledging the support of the state government, Dr Aulakh said that this year, Rs 5 crore was released under the special Agricultural Diversification Research and Development Fund. It will be used for breeding improved varieties of oilseeds and pulses of high nutritional quality.
