Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana and ICAR – Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) on Saturday morning at PAU campus to promote inter-institutional research, staff and students’ training and postgraduate research in cutting edge areas of cotton crop. This alliance will support the interchange of scientific data, researchers, technology, and scientific literature as well as information and techniques.

Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, PAU Vice Chancellor and Dr Y.G. Prasad, Director, ICAR-CICR, Nagpur were present with theirs teams on the occasion. Dr Gosal revealed that despite having only 1.53 percent geographical area, the Punjab state has been producing 10 percent of cotton of the country. However, the region has been facing problems like White Fly or Pink Bollworm in cotton fields for the last few years. Collaborative research with inputs from premier institutes can counter such problems with their expertise and logistics, he averred.

Dr Y.G. Prasad claimed that joint studies would not only solve problems in cotton crop, they would also enhance productivity and enable India to become a cotton exporting country. Emerging area of genome editing too can be explored jointly. The pact between the two institutes would facilitate scientists, staff and students to seek specialized guidance and facilities. Research instrumentation and library services would be made available to the faculty and research scholars. The duration of exchange visits will be determined by mutual consent, he explained.

Dr. Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research, PAU, shared the developments in various areas of research in PAU, especially in cotton. He recalled that both the institutions have earlier showcased a remarkable team effort in combating the outbreak of whitefly in cotton in different areas of Punjab. Similar results of this collaboration can be expected in managing the emerging pests in cotton. Dr. D. K. Sharma, Head, Department of Entomology gave details about the conceptualization of the collaboration.

The MoU was signed by Dr Shammi Kapoor, Registrar, on behalf of PAU and Dr. Y.G. Prasad on behalf of ICAR-CICR, Nagpur.

On the occasion, Dr Sandeep Bains, Dean Postgraduate Studies and Dr. Naveen Aggarwal, Principal Entomologist (Insect Ecology), PAU, Ludhiana; Dr. S K Verma, Incharge, CICR, Regional Station, Sirsa, Dr. A H Prakash, PC and Head, CICR, Regional Station, Coimbatore and Dr. Rishi Kumar, Principal Entomologist, CICR, Regional Station, Sirsa were also present. Dr Vishal Bector of the Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering coordinated the programme.