27-member California delegation visits PAU
Friday, 22/02/2013
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/27_member-California-delegation-visits-PAU.html
LUDHIANA: A 27-member delegation of California Agriculture Leadership Foundation (CALF) USA; visited the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today to explore potential areasfor collaboration, share farm experiences and learn about agricultural business, economics,education, research, and transfer of technology.
The delegation, comprising of farm experts and emerging agriculturists, was lead by Dr CharlesBoyer, Dean, College of Agriculture, California State University, USA; and accompanied by MrKarmdeep Bains, fourth generation progressive farmer, California.
During their interaction with the senior officials, heads and faculty of various departmentsof the University, the delegates discussed about water treatment system, crop improvementtechnologies, and cold storage facilities.
The group of PAU experts included Dr D.S. Cheema, Dean, College of Agriculture; Dr R.S.Sidhu, Dean, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities; Dr H.S. Dhaliwal, Additional Directorof Extension Education; Dr P.K. Khanna, Additional Director of Research (Food Science,Nutrition and Engineering); Dr H.S. Sehgal, Additional Director of Communication; Dr U.S.Sadana, Head, Department of Soil Science; Dr K.G. Singh, Soil and Water Engineering Expert;Dr P.P. Sahota, Prof. of Microbiology, Dr Ashok Kumar, Head, Department of Processing andFood Engineering; and Dr Ramandeep S. Jassal, Deputy Director (Public Relations).
Dr Michael Thomas, Director of Education, CALF, said that the California AgricultureLeadership Programme provides an advanced leadership development experience to emergingagri-leaders, who will be effective advocates for issues facing agriculture, communities, state andthe nation.
Dr Robert Flores, Professor of Agricultural Education, California Polytechnic State University,USA; divulged that nearly 70,000 students at secondary level and about 10,000 students atundergraduate level are pursuing education in agriculture in California. The major focus in onproducing and preparing agriculturists for the future, he told.
K. Bains said that they seek to enter into cooperative venture with the PAU to develop jointfarm technologies in any aspect of agriculture. With agri-advancements in California, there area lot of opportunities for partnership between the two sides for direct transfer of technology, hestated.
