In brief

PAU reviews extension activities
A state-level meeting to review the extension activities carried out by different Krishi Vigyan Kendras,Farm Advisory service scheme and outstations of PAU,held today in the Farmers Service Centre,various feed backs put forth by the participating extension personnel discussed. Dr M S Gill,Director of Extension Education,discussed the impact of contingency plan for different crops proposed by PAU in the view of flood-like situation that the state experienced recently. It was highlighted that the plans must be made need-based to focus the regional problems. Later,the articles submitted by the PAU experts on different topics for publication in farm magazines,Changi Kheti and Progressive Farming were finalised for the September issue of the magazine.

PAU inks pact with USA university
A team comprising Dr Richard Broglie,Dr Barbara Mazur,Dr Howard Hershey,Dr Ramanathan Vairamani and Dr Anand Pandravada from Dupont-Association,USA,visited Punjab Agricultural University and held a series of meetings with the Vice- Chancellor,Dean Postgraduate Studies,Registrar,Director of Research,Heads of various departments and the scientists from different disciplines. PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Manjit S Kang apprised the team members about the pivotal role PAU has been playing in assuring food security of the country by developing a large number of crop varieties along with relevant production and protection technologies.

Workshop on basmati rice organised
A state-level workshop on awareness of geographical indication and enhancing productivity and quality of basmati through Integrated Crop Management (ICM) was held at Ludhiana under the auspices of Markfed,Punjab,APEDA,New Delhi,and BEDF,Meerut. Dr J S Kular,Former Director Extension Education,PAU,Ludhiana,and presently member,Board of Management of Punjab Agricultural University,Ludhiana was the chief guest on this occasion. More than 150 progressive farmers from the Punjab participated in the workshop.