Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has once again solidified its position as a premier institution by securing the top spot among the 75 agricultural universities in India in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 rankings. This achievement marks the second consecutive year that PAU has been awarded this honour. In the broader category of agricultural institutions, which includes agriculture and allied sectors, PAU ranks third, following the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, and the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal.
At a press conference held to discuss this prestigious achievement, Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor of PAU, reflected on the university’s storied history and its continued trajectory of excellence. Established in 1962, PAU has grown over the past 62 years to become a world-renowned institution, often referred to as the “Mother of the Green Revolution” in India. PAU’s legacy is further cemented by its role as the parent institution of six other universities, including one in Ludhiana, three in Himachal Pradesh, and two in Haryana.
Dr. Gosal expressed immense pride in PAU’s consistent performance in the NIRF rankings, noting, “This recognition reaffirms our commitment to excellence in agricultural education, research, and extension.” He attributed the university’s success to its high standards in various parameters, including Teaching, Learning, and Resources (TLR); Research and Professional Practice (RP); Graduation Outcome (GO); Outreach and Inclusivity (OI); and Perception (PR). The NIRF 2024 rankings saw participation from 6,517 institutions, with a total of 10,845 applications, highlighting the competitive nature of this ranking process.
Dr. Gosal highlighted the unique and specialized focus of PAU, which deals exclusively with agriculture, research, and extension, and more recently, has begun promoting agri-business. “PAU is non-comparable with other traditional and science universities and institutes,” he remarked, spotlighting the university’s distinct role in the agricultural landscape. He extended his heartfelt congratulations to the PAU faculty, employees, supporting staff, students, and the hundreds of PAU alumni residing abroad, acknowledging their collective efforts in maintaining the university’s top ranking.
Looking ahead, Dr. Gosal outlined PAU’s ambitious vision following its success in the NIRF 2024 rankings. The university plans to establish a Digital Technology Park for Smart Farming, which will showcase cutting-edge technologies such as sensor-based automated irrigation, automated weather station, drone applications in agronomic operations, machine learning-based decision support system and much more. Similarly, PAU’s School of AI in Agriculture is in the pipeline. PAU’s research will also focus on developing climate-resilient, heat-tolerant, and disease/pest-resistant crop varieties as well as early-maturing rice varieties, with a particular emphasis on addressing challenges such as climate change, soil nutrient depletion and water scarcity.
Dr. Gosal also underscored PAU’s commitment to reducing post-harvest losses, particularly in horticultural produce, by working on processing, value addition, and proper marketing strategies. The university’s Skill Development Centre (SDC) continues to play a crucial role in nurturing entrepreneurs, with more than 80 agri start-ups already launched by individuals trained at the SDC.
Wrapping up, Dr. Gosal reiterated PAU’s dedication to fostering agricultural innovation, farmer welfare, food security, and rural development. He expressed deep gratitude to the State Government and the farming community for their unwavering support, which has been instrumental in PAU’s journey towards achieving excellence in agriculture.
Read more: https://www.pau.edu/index.php?_act=manageEvent&DO=viewEventDetail&dataE=datae&intID=9462
