LUDHIANA: Khem Singh Gill, the new Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University will lay more emphasis on regional research by identifying field problems. Specific recommendations for the agro-climatic zones will also be formulated.

Dr. Gill took over as Vice Chancellor on January 1, from Dr, Sukhdey Singh who retired on December 31. Dr. Gill a renowned plant breeder of the country has attained international status as a wheat breeder. He has worked in various capacities in Punjab Agricultural University. He has held the posts of Professor and Head Department of Plant breeding. Dean, College of Agriculture and Director of Research.

At present he is working as the Director of Extension Education at PAU.

Dr. Gill says that postgraduate research projects will be made more relevant to the emerging problems of intensive agriculture.

Hybrid Varieties

The emphasis will shift to the development of hybrid varieties of tice, cotton, raya, toria, sunflower and vegetables. “Side by side we will try to develop multi cut fodder. Priority will be given in the field of disease and pest resistance in various crops and vegetables,” he says.

There will be more emphasis on biological measures for the control of insects and pests and integrated pest management will be developed. Here are some excerpts from an interview with him.

Question: Since the wheat and paddy production have touched an all-time high and there is more emphasizes on diversification what are the areas of development?

Dr. Gill; we will lay emphasis on the development of export oriented research, for example in basmati rice, floriculture and durum wheat. These crops can fetch better income to the farmers. Research on agro-based industries will also be taken up and the quality of processing vegetables and fruits is one area which needs immediate attention.

Sugarcane Crop

Sugarcane is emerging as industrial crop and we have only one variety COJ64 which has been affected by red rot. This will be diversified incorporating resistance to red rot with a higher sugar content.

Question: What will be your other priorities?

Dr. Gill: Soil health problems are becoming more important on account of the exploitation of soil and water resources. We will like to emphasize on resource management. We are exploiting ground water resources extensively and the water table is going down. This can pose problems. In order to save water resources we will focus research on irrigation water management.

Animal Husbandry and development of veterinary sciences is also important in order to provide better health cover to the cattle wealth of the State. We will establish bull-mother farms and work on developing appropriate mechanization for dairy management on a priority basis. Embryo transfer technology which has been tested extensively at PAU will be made more popular and embryo transfer farms will be set up. Extension education services in animal health care will also be strengthened.

Research teams

To coordinate interdisciplinary work, subject wise research teams and crop wise research teams will be formulated. This will save duplication and new areas of research will be explored.

Research on biotechnology will also be strengthened. Computerization of various program in the university will be introduced particularly in monitoring and evaluating research and teaching program, accounts and student affairs.

Question: How will you improve the academic atmosphere on the campus?

Dr. Gill: We will strengthen student teacher relations and help promote values along with excellence in science. We will modernize the teaching aids and introduce work study program at the undergraduate level. The effort will be to have more interred action with the students and teachers to sort out their problems.

Questions: What steps will be taken to improve the relations between the teachers and the university administration?

Dr. Gill: I have inherited a very competent faculty which has played a major role in meeting the food deficit of the State and the country. I will not face any problem with the faculty and all genuine problems of the faculty and the nonteaching staff will be met with sympathetic considerations.

I will appreciate accountability as our main task is to serve the farming community. The farming community is supreme for the university. The young scientists will be encouraged to develop their own independent research program.

Dr. Gill has the distinction of winning the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award for his contribution to the development of agriculture and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 by the Board of Management of PAU for his outstanding work in the research and development of wheat varieties.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 2, 1990