Photo Source; Babushahi Bureau
PAU hosts 43rd Annual Group Meet of ICAR-AICRP on vegetable crops after 25 years
Babushahi Bureau
Ludhiana (Punjab), March 3, 2025: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, inaugurated the 43rd Annual Group Meet of the ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Vegetable Crops, bringing together distinguished scientists, researchers, and policymakers on a vital platform for advancing scientific discourse, strengthening research collaborations, and promoting innovations for the sustainable development of vegetable crops in India.
A key highlight of the event was the conferring of the Best AICRP (Vegetable Crops) Coordinating Centre-2024 award to Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, as the top-performing centre of the country, recognising its outstanding contributions to vegetable crop research. Additionally, all vegetable scientists of the department were felicitated for their dedicated efforts.
Delivering the inaugural address, Chief Guest Dr. S.K. Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), ICAR, New Delhi, underscored the critical role of vegetable crops in ensuring food and nutritional security.
Expressing his admiration for the contributions of PAU’s vegetable scientists, he acknowledged their dedication and hard work, stating that their varieties dominate the region, making a lasting impact on farmers and consumers alike.
Dr. Singh emphasised that AICRP research is a continuous process and advocated for a policy shift that allows scientists to continue working on specific crop projects for at least 3-4 years. This, he stressed, would enhance research viability and lead to more effective outcomes.
He also urged scientists to recognise the long-term value of field and laboratory-generated data, even if its immediate application is not apparent.
"We live in an age of data analysis, and data is power," he remarked, emphasising the need for structured data utilisation in agricultural research.
Focusing on climate change resilience, Dr. Singh called for strengthening rootstock research to develop more adaptable vegetable varieties. He further advocated for integrating AI and robotics in vegetable research, stressing that cost-effective solutions must be designed to align with Indian agricultural systems.
Highlighting the Finance Minister’s recent announcements in Parliament, Dr. Singh referred to the National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds and urged universities to collaborate with policymakers by submitting recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture for inclusion in national programmes.
Applauding the establishment of the Makhana Board, he emphasised the need to popularise fox nut (makhana) cultivation due to its high nutritional value and market potential.
Dr. Singh further urged researchers to prioritise indigenous vegetable varieties to promote organic farming and reduce dependency on chemical-based pest control.
He cautioned against excessive chemical use and advocated for integrating biomass into farming systems to enhance soil fertility and ecological balance.He also stressed the importance of preserving ethnic crops like bathua and methi, which are climate-resilient and nutritionally vital for vulnerable populations.
In his presidential remarks, Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, Ludhiana, expressed deep appreciation for the collaborative research efforts that have propelled Punjab’s vegetable farming to new heights.
Acknowledging the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for holding the prestigious AICRP meet at PAU after 25 years, he congratulated the retired scientists for their remarkable team efforts and commended the Department of Vegetable Science for its outstanding contributions to research, extension, and the economic upliftment of vegetable farmers in the region.
Dr. Gosal emphasised that the Department of Vegetable Science, established in the early 1970s, has been a driving force behind Punjab’s dominance in vegetable production, which surpasses other states due to the region’s rich soil and the adoption of cutting-edge technological advancements.
He proudly stated that PAU is currently working on 35 vegetable crops, developing high-yielding, multiple disease-resistant, and nutrient-rich varieties of key crops such as tomato, potato, and pumpkin.
He highlighted PAU’s pioneering efforts in integrating speed breeding in vegetable crops to accelerate the release of new varieties, a breakthrough innovation aimed at revolutionizing crop improvement timelines.
Further underlining PAU’s scientific advancements, he informed the gathering about the university’s expansion of tissue culture facilities in potato production, which will soon be extended to other vegetable crops.
He also discussed the increasing popularity of vegetable nutrition gardens and the growing demand for rooftop vegetable cultivation in response to shrinking urban spaces, for which PAU has developed detailed guidelines.
Dr. Gosal also shed light on PAU’s strong industry collaborations, revealing that the university has signed 63 Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) with private companies for vegetable crop development.
Additionally, he noted that PAU’s Farm Machinery Department is the most advanced in the country, contributing over 50% of agricultural machinery prototypes in India. Addressing the challenges of climate change and water depletion, he elaborated on PAU’s extensive work in drip irrigation, fertigation, and sustainable vegetable production technologies.
He also stressed the university’s focus on developing vegetable varieties suitable for processing industries and promoting protected cultivation in poly-net houses. Looking towards the future, Dr. Gosal emphasised the potential of grafting technology to revolutionise vegetable farming, just as it has successfully transformed fruit production.
He expressed hope for meaningful deliberations during the technical sessions, reinforcing PAU’s unwavering commitment to advancing agricultural research and empowering farmers with innovative solutions.
Guest of Honour, Dr. Sudhakar Pandey, Assistant Director General (FVS&MP-Hort.), ICAR, New Delhi, highlighted the importance of fostering innovation in horticultural research.
Dr. N. Rai, Acting Director, ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi, shared the Director’s Remarks, emphasising the significance of collaborative research in vegetable crop improvement.
Dr. A.S. Dhatt, Director of Research, PAU, Ludhiana, delivered the welcome address, extending warm greetings to the esteemed guests and participants. Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Project Coordinator (Vegetable Crops), ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi, presented the project coordinator's report, providing an overview of key research progress and developments in the past year.
The event highlight included felicitating the retired vegetable scientists, acknowledging their lifelong contributions to agricultural research, followed by felicitating the distinguished guests on stage.
The inaugural session commenced with a round of the exhibition, showcasing cutting-edge research and developments in vegetable crops. The session also witnessed the release of the Annual Report 2024-25 and other research publications.
It was followed by a tribute to the late Dr. K.S. Nandpuri, a pioneering scientist in vegetable research, and recognition of PAU’s retired vegetable scientists for their exceptional contributions.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. M.I.S. Gill, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, PAU, Ludhiana, who expressed gratitude to all participants for their valuable presence and contributions to the event. Dr. Hina Goyal coordinated the proceedings of the inaugural session.