Dr. Tarsem Singh Dhillon, born on September 5, 1966 in village Chabhal, District Tarn Taran received B.Sc. Agriculture (Hons.) in 1988, M.Sc. Vegetable Crops in 1991 and Ph.D. Vegetable Crops in 2002 from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He was recipient of scholarship from Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board during B.Sc. Agriculture. He started his professional career as District Extension Specialist (Vegetables) at FASS, Bathinda in December 1992 and elevated to the post of Associate Professor in September 2002, Senior Extension Specialist-Vegetables (equivalent to Professor) in January 2009, Director (Seeds) in November 2016 and Head, Department of Vegetable Science in November 2020. Presently, he is Principal Investigator of project “Development of Improved Varieties/Hybrids in Carrot and Beans” and Co-PI of adhoc project “Empowering the Scheduled Caste Communities through Technological Intervention in Horticulture and Allied Venture” funded by DST. He was the Co-PI of various adhoc projects “Integrated Approach to Provide Employment Opportunities to Women” funded by DST; “An integrated Approach for Employment and Livelihood Security of Small and Marginal Farmers/Farm Women in Kandi region of Punjab” funded by DST; “Socio-economic Development of Scheduled Caste Communities through Technology Interventions in Horticulture and related Ventures” funded by Punjab State Council for Science and Technology; “Creation of Seed-Hubs for Increasing Indigenous Production of Pulses in India” funded by ICAR. During his tenure as Director (Seeds), vegetable seed production was significantly increased and 53 varieties of field and vegetable crops got notified at national level to bring in seed chain. Moreover, new initiatives like creating new attractive look of vegetable seed kits, small packaging of vegetables and oilseeds, preparation of pulses and oil seeds kits and introduction of laminated fabric seed bags for wheat packaging reducing to cost upto 50% were implemented. He successfully initiated Single Window Computerized System for seed sale at PAU kisan melas along with launching new Seed Portal for ensuring easy access of seeds to farmers. Dr Dhillon has recommended 5 varieties of carrot (Punjab Jamuni, Punjab Roshni, PC-161, Punjab Black Beauty, and Punjab Carrot Red) and one of bitter gourd (Punjab Kareeli-1) and also commercialized PC-161 variety with three private seed companies for its mass production. Besides, Punjab Black Beauty has also been commercialized for probiotic beverage preparation with the Unniti Cooperative Marketing cum Processing Society, Talwara. To improve vegetable production and productivity, 10 technologies recommended by him are included in the Package of Practices of Vegetable Crops, PAU. He has taught 263 credit hours, guided fourteen M.Sc and two Ph.D. students in the discipline of Vegetable Science.

Dr. Dhillon has participated in International Conference in University of Florida, USA and also imparted International trainings to Afghanistan officials. He has published 55 original research papers in journals of national and International repute, presented 25 research papers at various National and International conferences/symposia, published 135 extension articles, 12 book chapters, five bulletins, Two book, five edited books and four manuals. He is also a prolific extension worker and has organized 157 trainings/workshops, delivered 492 lectures in various training programmes, delivered 116 Radio/TV talks, exhibited Department achievements in 281 kisan melas/workshops and conducted/monitored 743 Adaptive Research trials. He is the member of six Scientific Societies engaged with the advancement of Vegetable Research. He was Director- Board of Directors of PUNSEED (Punjab); Member- Governing Board, of Punjab State Seed Certification Authority (Punjab); Member- Post Graduation Agriculture Education and Research Board, GNDU, Amritsar; and Subject Expert of Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, GNDU, Amritsar. For his significant contributions in Vegetable Research, Extension and Seed Production, PAU has received “Best All India Coordinated Research Project (Vegetable Crops) Centre Award” in 2021 and “Certificate of Excellence” for Breeder Seed Production (2017-18) from ICAR. He also received appreciation letters from Director Students Welfare; Director of Extension Education; Head, Department of Vegetable Science and Farm Literature Popularization Award by PAU, Ludhiana.