A Saga of Progress COMPENDIUM OF 50 YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENTS (1962-2012) PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY LUDHIANA-141004 Citation: A Saga of Progress: Compendium of 50 Years of Achievements, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2012, pp 230. Published by: Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Director of Research, for and on behalf of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in November, 2012. Printed at: Foil Printers, Ludhiana Cover Design : Kulwant Singh Basra FOREWORD India has made tremendous progress in agriculture. Food grain production increased from 50 mt in 1950- 51 to 257 mt in 2011-12. A food-deficient nation during 1950s and 1960s, it has now not only exportable surplus of certain commodities but is among the top exporters of rice, one of three most important crops. Punjab state has played a leading role in this agricultural transformation. Food grain production in the state was 3.1 mt in 1960-61 and it increased to 29.2 mt during 2011-12. More importantly, productivity of wheat rose from 12 to 51 q/ha and that of paddy from 15 to about 60 q/ha. In fact, rice production increased by nearly 50 times. With 38- 75 and 25-45 % contribution of wheat and rice, respectively, to the central food grain pool for public distribution, the State became mainstay of national food security and came to be known as bread basket of India. The agricultural transformation was technology led. It started with the introduction/development of high yielding dwarf, input responsive varieties of wheat in mid 1960s followed by that of rice and the package of complementary production-protection technologies, the adoption of which ushered in an era of “Green Revolution”. Different institutions were active in this endeavour. But going by the data on quantity of seed production of improved varieties by PAU, spread of area under their cultivation accompanied by phenomenal jump in productivity and production fanning out from Ludhiana, the location of main campus of the University, PAU is rightly “the Mother of Green Revolution”. The University has completed 50 years of glorious service to the nation in agricultural research, education and extension. Besides development of improved varieties of field and horticultural crops and their production- protection technologies, PAU has remarkable contributions to its credit in saline-alkaline soil reclamation, cropping- systems, farm mechanization, cross-breeding of cattle, introduction of Italian honey bee, mushroom cultivation etc. These research achievements were coupled with innovative technology transfer approaches, such as, interaction between scientists and farmers at Kisan Melas, establishment of Farmers Service Centre and distribution of seeds of new varieties in a large number of minikits. Over the years, the University has produced a large scientific manpower that has brought laurels at the national and international levels. In recognition of its outstanding contributions to the nation, PAU was the first agricultural university to be conferred with the “Best Institution Award” by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (1995) and also the first to get as large grant as Rs. 100 crore from the Government of India (2007). Government policy aiming at national food security and technology advances led to the emergence of highly remunerative paddy-wheat cropping-system in North-West Indo-Gangetic plains. The large scale adoption of this high yielding but input intensive system has stressed natural resources. For example, underground water table has declined, water quality, soil health and environment have been adversely affected, and biodiversity has dwindled. The University reoriented its research agenda and technology dissemination programmes in late 1970s towards sustainable development i.e. productivity enhancement accompanied by conservation/amelioration of natural resources. It focused on integrated management of insect pests, diseases, nutrients and water, and conservation agriculture with tangible results. The University has also throughout contributed significantly towards farm mechanization resulting in the Punjab as the most mechanized state and hub of farm machinery industry. However, mechanization is undergoing rapid advances which we need to assimilate to promote precision agriculture. We have a long history of research in food science, technology, processing and nutrition with appreciable contributions. But impact of these research contributions is not visible, the limiting factors being emphasis on quantity rather than quality of the produce and on farmers rather than industry. With as high level of productivity as about 110 q/ha of wheat and paddy, post-harvest technologies including value addition and coordination with industry need to be paid due attention. (i) Climate change has emerged as a new challenge. In this context, weather extremities and appearance of new insect pests and diseases need specific attention. To meet these challenges, we need multi-dimensional expansion of our research programmes. Mobilization of genetic resources through novel techniques of biotechnology are going to be extremely helpful in developing climate resilient varieties. In fact, besides biotechnology, other technologies such as information and communication technology, remote sensing, nanotechnology, etc. are fast emerging. All these need to be integrated into our programmes which demand large resources. This also requires development/strengthening of partnership in research and linkages with industry and market at national and international levels. Further, to upgrade mass awareness to the required level, we need to develop new extension methods and their integration with information and communication technology tools. Apparently, reprioritization of our agenda is a continuous process in this fast changing scenario. A compilation of work over a period of 50 years of such an institution as Punjab Agricultural University, which has tremendous contributions to its credit, is an awesome difficult task. But it is important to review the achievements so as to identify strength and weakness keeping in mind the past scenario and emerging needs, challenges and opportunities. Only then one is enabled to meticulously plan ahead and reorient research, teaching and extension agenda. I appreciate the efforts of Drs. S.S. Gosal, T.S. Thind, P.S. Chahal and all others who contributed to the preparation of this compendium of achievements on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Year of the University. I hope it will serve as a repository of information for the scientists, policy makers and other stakeholders. Ludhiana (Baldev Singh Dhillon) November 12, 2012 Vice Chancellor (ii) PREFACE During the past 50 years, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has played a pivotal role in ushering in the Green Revolution and transformed the State of Punjab to food grain bowl of the country. The productivity and production of crops have been immensely enhanced. In major crops like wheat and rice, the productivity has been increased by four times, whereas, the total production in the state has increased by 10.3 times in wheat and nearly 50 times in rice. Having just 1.53 per cent geographical area of the country, Punjab has been producing up to 22 per cent of wheat, 11 per cent of rice and 10 per cent of cotton of the country. The PAU has developed/recommended 707 varieties/hybrids of different crops. Out of these, 117 varieties/ hybrids have been released at the national level. It is pioneer in the world for developing first pearlmillet hybrid (HB-1), first single cross maize hybrid (Paras) and first hybrid of gobhi sarson (PGSH 51). Besides, matching crop production and protection technologies have been developed and disseminated. The university developed several key technologies such as reclamation of salt affected and water logged soils, soil testing, cropping systems, chemical weed management, kinnow cultivation, integrated pest/disease/nutrient/water management, conservation agriculture such as zero tillage, leaf colour chart, tensiometer & happy seeder, agroforesty systems, farm machinery, protected cultivation, web-based decision support system for late blight of potato, biofertilizes, biocontrol agents, pesticide residue analysis, value addition & processing, bioenergy, micropropagation, doubled haploid production, Marker Assisted Selection, quality seed & nursery production, honey & mushroom production, cross breeding of dairy cattle, embryo transfer technology, and foot and mouth disease management that had a remarkable impact on Punjab agriculture. Punjab agriculture is currently passing through a difficult period. Declining under ground water table, deteriorating soil health and ground water quality, changing climate, environmental degradation, crop residue management, diminishing farm size, increasing cost of agri-inputs, machinery, energy & labour and marketing constraints have become major problems. We have to focus more in future to develop technologies that can help in enhancing production per unit of land and water, without adversely affecting the environment. Special attention needs to be given to develop climate resilient technologies that are better suited to the small and marginal farmers. Due attention needs to be given towards germplasm enhancement, accelerated and precision breeding, conservation of natural resources, crop diversification, precision farming, micro irrigation and fertigation, site specific nutrient management, rational use of pesticides, post harvest and supply chain management, plant health