Ludhiana, Dec 30, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
In a rare honour, the former Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, a Padma Shri Awardee, has been invited to serve as the Vice-President (V-P) of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) for a term of three years. This NAAS recognition comes in wake of his rich experience and colossal contributions to the field of agriculture and allied enterprises.
Having served as Vice-Chancellor of PAU for a decade in a row (10 years from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2021 without any break), Dr Dhillon steered this agri-varsity to the great heights with his meticulous planning, able administration, intellectual veracity and fine dexterity, thus bringing him dignity among the scientific fraternity of the country as well as the abroad.
A letter, duly signed by the President of the NAAS Dr Himanshu Pathak and addressed to the internationally acclaimed maize breeder Dr Dhillon, mentions: “The Fellows and the Executive Council of the NAAS have decided to invite you to serve as Vice-President of the Academy for a term of three years with effect from January 1, 2025.
We are looking forward to your active participation and contribution to the strengthening of the activities of the Academy.”
A renowned figure in the field of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources who had served at several prestigious posts at PAU, GNDU, ICAR in India and Germany as well as Mexico abroad, Dr Dhillon made remarkable contribution by developing 16 varieties/hybrids of maize including ‘Paras’ – the first single cross hybrid in India (1995).
He worked untiringly to uplift Punjab Agricultural University nationally and globally; the PAU’s clinching of “Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award (2012-17),” making it to top rankings of ICAR and NIRF among all Indian Agricultural Universities, and securing of top positions for research publications and citations among all State Universities were some of the stellar accomplishments earned during his stewardship as agri-varsity VC.
Besides being a recipient of prestigious awards/scholarships/fellowships, Fellow of several academies, and President and Secretary of various societies and journals, Dr Dhillon’s penchant for natural resource conservation, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), food processing and value addition, and agricultural biotechnology and its application for crop improvement had brought home (Punjab and PAU) the bacons.
In addition, the development of early maturing rice varieties – PR 121 and PR 126, biofortified wheat (Zn rich), Bt cotton (bollworm resistant), less seeded Kinnow and vegetable hybrids/varieties; new farm machines and implements for paddy straw management, pesticidal spraying and drying of produce; and the management of whitefly in cotton (2015) as well as stubble burning (2018) had earned him state-wide recognition among the scientists and the farming community.
While expressing his sincere gratitude to the NAAS for recognizing his vital contributions to the agricultural development and offering him the highly coveted position of V-P, Dr Dhillon owed this honour equally to his team-mates at PAU; Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi; and agricultural institutions based off-shores where he had served with scientists from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU; senior officials; faculty, staff and students of the University extended heartfelt congratulations to Dr Dhillon for achieving this significant milestone and wished him all success in his future endeavors.
