Ludhiana: Dr Henk van Duijn, director general of the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), US, recently met with Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, vice-chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).
The discussion focused on PAU’s groundbreaking research, fostering institutional collaborations, and addressing nutrient management challenges in major cropping systems. Dr Upendra Singh, vice-president of IFDC, was also present.
Dr Gosal highlighted PAU’s significant advancements in farm mechanisation, regenerative agriculture, and innovative technology transfer strategies. He noted PAU’s top-ranked position in India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for 2023 and 2024 and its instrumental role in the Green Revolution. Dr Gosal emphasised PAU’s commitment to developing environmentally responsible technologies and its openness to international collaboration in cutting-edge fields.
Dr Henk van Duijn and Dr Upendra Singh provided an overview of IFDC’s efforts to address the overuse of fertilisers through efficient nutrient management in crop production. They praised PAU’s efforts in developing a mechanised system for fertiliser deep placement (FDP) for various crops and proposed exploring potential South-South collaboration, leveraging PAU’s expertise and IFDC’s presence in Africa to support sustainable agricultural mechanisation.
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