Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana on Friday gave a heat farewell to its longest serving Vice Chancellor (VC), Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon.
Dhillon had joined as VC of PAU in July 2011 for an preliminary time period of 4 years. He was given a 4-year extension in 2015 after which one other 2-year extension in 2019 by the state authorities. With ten years of service as VC (July 2011-June 2021), Dhillon grew to become the longest-serving VC for the reason that inception of PAU in 1962.
Prior to this, Dr MS Randhawa (October 23, 1968 – October 27, 1976), and Dr Sukhdev Singh (November 22, 1981 – December 31, 1989) had served as PAU V-Cs for eight years.
Dhillon attended the farewell ceremony alongside along with his spouse Dr Paramjit Kaur Dhillon on Friday. (specific photograph)
On Friday, a farewell ceremony was organized for Dr Dhillon, which was attended by Punjab’s Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Anirudh Tiwari, who quickly took over because the VC of the Agricultural University until a brand new head is appointed by the state. Will deal with
Dhillon attended the farewell ceremony alongside along with his spouse Dr Paramjit Kaur Dhillon on Friday.
Dr Navtej Bains, Director of Research, PAU stated that Dhillon’s fixed steering, encouragement and inspiration to the school led to the event of wonderful crop varieties and their production-conservation strategies.
A reputed identify within the subject of plant breeding and genetic assets – with experience in maize crop – Dr. Dhillon has served PAU as Director of Research, Director (Seeds) and Maize Breeder; Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) as Assistant Director General and Director, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi; and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, as Director of Research.
Prior to PAU, he served at Hohenheim University, Stuttgart, Germany; and the International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT), Mexico, as an affiliate scientist. As a maize breeder, Dr. Dhillon made an incredible contribution by creating 16 varieties/hybrids together with India’s first single cross hybrid ‘Paras’ in 1995.
Dhillon was awarded the Padma Shri in ‘Science and Engineering’ in 2019 for agricultural analysis by the Government of India.
During his tenure as VC, PAU gained the ‘Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award (2012–17), occupied the highest rating amongst All India Agricultural Universities as ranked by ICAR, and amongst all analysis publications and citations. Took the highest spot for. State universities as per CII-Indian Citation Index report.
PAU additionally developed and strengthened ties with trade, notably seed, meals processing and agricultural equipment.
Early maturing, excessive yielding styles of paddy (developed by PAU, particularly PR 121 and PR 126) have gained reputation amongst farmers and have resulted in water and pesticide financial savings, in addition to administration of paddy straw Has occurred. The University additionally led the nation within the growth of biofortified wheat (Zn enriched), Bt cotton (bollworm resistant) and low seeded kinnow and vegetable hybrids/varieties to advertise dietary safety, diversification and worth addition.
New agricultural machines and tools have been developed to deal with the problems of paddy straw administration, spraying of pesticides and drying of the produce. In addition, Dr. Dhillon led a joint inter-state marketing campaign (Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan) which efficiently managed whitefly in cotton, leading to a lint of 756 and 750 kg/ha (as in comparison with 197 kg). There was a bumper crop with file productiveness. /O throughout 2015) throughout 2016 and 2017 respectively.
He additionally led the marketing campaign in opposition to burning of paddy straw in 2018.
Dr. Dhillon has authored/edited 13 scientific books and printed 400 analysis and coverage papers. He has been awarded the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Memorial Award by ICAR; Dr. BP Pal Memorial Award (Highest Award) and Recognition Award by National Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Om Prakash Bhasin Award for Science and Technology; Lifetime Achievement Award by Punjab Academy of Sciences; Gold Medal by ICAR-IARI and plenty of others. He has additionally been awarded the Asian Maize Champion Award by CIMMYT.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
