Punjab Agricultural University

ABOUT US: The Punjab Agricultural University (http://www.pau.edu) was established in 1962 to serve the state of erstwhile Punjab. On trifurcation of Punjab in November 1966, Haryana Agricultural University was carved out of PAU by an Act of Parliament in February 1970. Later, in July 1970, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidalya was established.  In 2006 the College of Veterinary Science was upgraded to become Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University (GADVASU) at Ludhiana. The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is located in Ludhiana city. The PAU performs the integrated functions of teaching, research and extension in agriculture, agricultural engineering, home science and allied disciplines. The University has well equipped laboratories, library and lecture rooms and elaborate farm facilities. Hostel accommodation is available in the university hostels for single students. Married students, if accompanied by their family members, will have to find accommodation outside the campus. The PAU has played a key role in increasing food grain production in the Punjab state several folds share its reputation and ushering in an era of Green Revolution in India. It has also made notable contributions in increasing livestock and poultry production. In recognition of its outstanding achievements in agricultural research, education and extension, it was adjudged the Best Agricultural University in India in 1995.

EDUCATION/ACADEMICS: The Punjab Agricultural University now has four constituent colleges, viz. College of Agriculture, College of Agricultural Engineering, College of Home science and College of Basic Sciences & Humanities. At present the University, through 28 departments in the four constituent colleges, offers 31 Master's and 30 Ph.D. programmes. The course curricula are constantly revised and restructured to keep pace with the latest developments in agriculture and allied fields.

RESEARCH: Research is a major arena under the Directorate of Research. PAU is engaged in carrying out research in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Basic Sciences and Home Science. PAU has evolved a strong crop improvement programme.

Since its inception, PAU has released 563 crop varieties and hybrids. Of these several have gained national and international acceptability. Developed transgenic in rice, sugarcane and transformation system in tomato. Evolved the first single cross in maize. Introduced cultivation of new crops; sunflower, summer moong, summer groundnut, winter and spring maize. Developed resource conservation technologies: Zero tillage, Bed planting & Tensiometer (for optimum irrigation). Introduced net-house cultivation of vegetables for capsicum, brinjal and tomato. Worked out wheat rust management and insect resistant management designation of wheat rust genes and pyramiding of blight resistance genes in rice. Integrated pest management and insect resistance management techniques and technologies in cotton, sugarcane and maize. Introduced Italian honeybee in Punjab and developed technologies in honey production, extraction and processing. Developed new strain of mushroom for commercial production. Fine-tuned fish technology for high productivity.

The on-going research work is carried on to improve nutritional and other quality attributes to match international standards and research on management and recycling of crop residues and agricultural by products. The technologies are strengthened for efficient post-harvest management and agro-processing for value addition and extended shelf life of perishable agricultural produce and for cultivation and processing of aromatic and medicinal plants and organic farming are developed. Participatory research with involvement of farmers and end-users like industry to develop commercially acceptable technologies are intensified. Farm machinery development for precision agriculture technology generation for ground-water recharging and conservation will continue Application of Geographical Information System (GIS) and Geographical Positioning System (GPS) for precision farming and management of natural resources. Increased emphasis is given on women empowerment for household management in farm women operations.

EXTENSION: Need based technology development and refinement are continuous processes in which research and extension components work hand in hand. The university extension service maintains live and intimate links with the research department's on one hand and the field level functionaries of different state departments, development agencies and farmers on the other. The Directorate of Extension has Plant Clinic in which the crop plants suffering from various disorders are diagnosed and remedial measures are suggested to the farmers by a team of experts. The technical guidance for crops is also available here.   The farmers can also get the seed of new varieties (Kharif and Rabi Crops) and literature. The Directorate of Extension Education organizes number of training courses of Crop Production, Soils, Plant Protection, Horticulture, Agricultural Engineering, Mushroom Cultivation Bee Keeping and Home Science, at main campus, Ludhiana and at Sixteen Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Punjab for the benefit of farmers and field functionaries. The Directorate organizes special campaigns for the control of emerging problems like control of mealy bug in cotton, saving of irrigation water through laser leveler and control of late blight in potato. The testing of new technology (Adaptive Research Trials) at farmers fields, Front Line Demonstrations are also conducted under the supervision of Directorate. It also organizes officer's workshops. The farmer's fairs are conducted twice in a year (in March and September) at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and at Regional Research Stations at Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur (Ballowal Saunkhri), Patiala (Rauni) and Bathinda. The Communication centre publishes regular monthly farm magazines "Progressive Farming" and "Changi Kheti" besides Package of Practices for Rabi and Kharif Crops, vegetable crops and such other publications. The centre has produced video cassettes on various aspects of farming. ATIC:

Crop intensification and liberal use of agricultural inputs resulted in complex field problems. Soil health started deteriorating with multiple micronutrient deficiencies appearing in crops. There has been increased in the incidence of diseases and insect pests and also development of resistance to pesticides and resurgence of insects and diseases. Keeping in view the need of the Punjab farmers the Agricultural University Ludhiana started a Plant health Clinic later named as Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC). Kisan Melas: PAU is the first agricultural institute in the country to initiate the concept of Kisan melas. This activity was started in 1967. These Melas are regularly held twice a year at Ludhiana in March and September. On this occasion, besides field demonstrations, an agro-industrial exhibition is also put up and farm produce competitions are held. Now regional fairs are also held twice a year before the sowing of Rabi and Kharif crops. This is done to cater to the needs of the farmers of the sub-mountain zone (at Gurdaspur), rainfed zone (At Ballowal Saunkhri, Nawanshahar), south-western zone (at Bathinda) and central plain zone (at Patiala). At the Kisan Melas, awards are given to the progressive farmers,  innovative farmers of the state, best self cultivating farmer of field crops, best vegetable grower in summer and winter and self cultivating farmer in diversified farming system. Each Award carries a cash prize amounting of Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 8000 and Rs. 3100.

 

ADDRESS: Punjab Agricultural University,
                Ludhiana (Punjab) 141004, INDIA
                Tel. 91-161- 2401960-79 Ext: - 213, Fax.       91-161- 2400945

LINKS: (i) www.icar.org.in (ii) www.fao.org (iii) www.irri.org (iv) www.agricoop.nic.in/ (v) www.goidirectory.nic.in/university.htm