Ludhiana, April 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Bringing laurels to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ms Ketan Dogra, a postgraduate student from the Department of Extension Education and Communication Management (EECM), has secured top honours at a national-level conference held at Vivekanand Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan.
She participated in the National Conference on Agri-Innovation and Sustainability in Modern Agriculture (ASIMA), organised on April 9–10, 2026. During the conference, Ms Dogra was conferred with the ‘Young Scientist Award’ by the Society for Diversified Agriculture and Rural Development, Bikaner, in recognition of her master’s research titled “Awareness and Consumption Pattern of Millets in Urban Households of Punjab.” The research was conducted under the guidance of Dr Preeti Sharma, Associate Professor, EECM.
The study revealed that while urban households in Punjab were well aware of millets such as pearl millet, sorghum, and barnyard millet, awareness regarding other varieties remained limited.
Consumption of millets was found to be generally low, largely influenced by religious practices, traditional food habits, and perceived health benefits. The research also identified key challenges, including preference for rice and wheat, storage issues, short shelf life, and limited market accessibility.
The study recommended strengthening PAU–farmer linkages, conducting awareness campaigns on the health and environmental benefits of millets, and promoting supportive government interventions to enhance availability and consumption.
In addition, Ms Dogra delivered an oral presentation titled “Comparative Insights into Awareness, Consumption and Constraints of Millet Use in Rural and Urban Punjab,” for which she received the ‘Best Oral Presentation Award.’
The Vice-Chancellor of PAU, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal; Dean, Postgraduate Studies; Dr A.S. Dhatt, Director of Research; Dr Kiran Bains, Dean, College of Community Science; and Dr Ritu Mittal Gupta, Head, EECM, congratulated the student on her outstanding achievement.
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