TRAINING COURSE ON 'CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE AND SOIL HEALTH' CONCLUDES AT PAU

Ludhiana, November 21, 2017: The 31st National level three-week ICAR CAFT training course on “Conservation Agriculture and Soil Health” organized by Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana concluded here today.

Dr Rajeev Sikka, Chief-coordinator, CAFT shared that 17 participants from different ICAR institutes and State Agricultural Universities of the country attended the course that included lectures, interactions with eminent scientists on topics related to the theme such as conservation agriculture concept for enhancing soil health, nutrient & water management and precision agriculture.

Hands on training was given on ICAP-AES, ICAP-MS, Gas Chromatograph, AAS, CHNS analyzer, SPAD meter and GreenSeeker. Experts from CSSRI, Lucknow, BISA, CIMMYT delivered lectures.The ICAR nominated Dr P.C. Srivastava, Head, Department of Soil Science, GB Pant University of Agri. & Technology, Pantnagar to evaluate the conduct and arrangement of the training. He was also the guest of honour for the concluding day and delivered a lecture on “Micronutrient Management Strategies in degraded ecosystem”.

Concluding the training programme, Chief Guest, Dr (Mrs) Neelam Grewal, Dean Post Graduate Studies, PAU, applauded the research accomplishments of the stalwarts and legends of Soil Science department. She hoped that the relevant theme of the training will sensitize the participants about the need of maintaining soil health. She exhorted the participating scientists to continue to sustain linkages they made with faculty of Soil Science in future. Dr Grewal later presented certificates on successful completion of training.

Earlier, Dr. O.P. Choudhary, Head of the Department of Soil Science and Director, CAFT formally welcomed the Chief Guest, Guest of honour and the participants. He informed that since 1995, CAFT in Soil Science has organized 30 training courses on various topics such as soil health enhancement, natural resource management vis-à-vis climate change, environmental pollution and mitigation strategies, and recent advances in soil and plant analysis etc/; and trained more than 500 scientists so far

In the end, Dr M.S. Kahlon, Coordinator of the training programme proposed a vote of thanks.