Farm varsity student wins laurels in kickboxing

Ambika Sharma

solan, January 9

Lokesh Bhanot, a student of the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri (Hamirpur), brought laurels to the university by bagging bronze medal in the senior category (90-100 kg) in the National Kickboxing Championship held in Patna. Bhanot competed with 16 participants from Delhi, HP, Haryana and Rajasthan. He has also been selected for the Asian Olympics which will be held later this year. Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Chief Minister, Bihar, gave away the medal to him. Vice Chancellor Dr Hari Chand Sharma also felicitated him for his achievement.

Dr Verma is Director Research

Dr KS Verma has been posted as the new Director Research (DR) replacing Dr VS Thakur who has been placed as Director, Extension. This was the first major change effected by VC Dr HC Sharma ever since he assumed the charge from his predecessor Dr VS Thakur in August last year. Dr VS Thakur had earlier completed his three year tenure as the VC and had assumed charge as Director Research later. His appointment as the Director Research had generated much heat in the university as it was a rare occasion that an outgoing VC had on his own appointed himself as the Director Research.

Student clears ARS exam

Kamini Gautam, a student of the college of forestry, cleared the prestigious Agricultural Research Services (ARS) Examination-2016. Since there was only one seat at the national level in the forestry stream for the said post, it is a commendable achievement. Such examination is conducted by the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, every year.

She graduated in the forestry stream and pursued her MSc and PhD from the Department of Forest Products.

Workshop on advances in disease mgmt

The Department of Plant Pathology in collaboration with the Himalayan Phytopathological Society organised a two-day workshop on “Advances in Disease Management Technologies in Horticultural Crops”. More than 120 scientists, extension officers of the State Department of Agriculture and Horticulture and Research Scholars of Plant Pathology attended the workshop. Dr Hari Chand Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, while addressing the gathering highlighted the need for strengthening technological knowhow for the better management of diseases in the horticultural crops. He emphasised the need of using eco-friendly approaches in disease management to minimise the use of chemical pesticides. He lauded the efforts of the organisers in constituting the ‘Himalayan phytopathological Society’ which will provide a vibrant forum to cater to the need of the farmers in the management of disease.

National workshop on hydroponics

The Soil Science and Water Management Department organised a day-long national workshop on Hydroponics – A Soilless Culture for Urban Agriculture. VC Dr Hari Chand Sharma was the chief guest on the occasion. Statutory officers, professor and heads of different departments, faculty, staff, students and scientists from various states and farmers from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh participated in the workshop.

On this occasion Dean, College of Forestry, Dr Pawan Kumar Mahajan emphasised the need for making WhatsApp group of farmers to share such technologies.

VC Dr Hari Chand Sharma said since land was becoming scarce due to urbanisation, scientists should standardise techniques to enable people to grow vegetables on the roof corners, verandas, etc.

He also emphasised the need to develop varieties suitable to hydroponic system in which nutrient supply and intensity of light could also be standardised. Varieties resistant to diseases and pests should also be developed and there is an urgent need to standardise method of drying and processing of vegetables which could add to the value addition and marketing, he added.