IIMR-PAU TEAM WINS TOP PRIZE IN NATIONAL 'SPEED BREEDING' HACKATHON

Ludhiana, August 4, 2023; 

In a remarkable achievement, a team from Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR) and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) stood out in the national-level competition, Kritagya Hackathon 3.0, organized by ICAR-National Agricultural Higher Education Project in collaboration with the Crop Sciences Division of Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The competition focused on 'Speed Breeding for Crop Improvement' and saw the participation of 135 teams comprising 540 participants from 25 states across India.

Led by Dr. Alla Singh, a Scientist at ICAR-IIMR and also an Adjunct Faculty at PAU's School of Agricultural Biotechnology, the team made significant strides in the competition. The team members, including Ms. Hiroshi Chawla and Ms. Mathanki Mehraas, both students of School of Agricultural Biotechnology, showcased their groundbreaking work on rapid differentiation of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) from Field Maize using a rapid diagnostic test which can be performed even in the field or the grain markets. The innovative solution has the potential to help farmers get premium price for QPM produce over other maize samples by enabling rapid testing using minimal equipment through the diagnostic test.

For their exceptional contribution, the IIMR-PAU team secured the coveted First Prize at the Kritagya Hackathon 3.0. The award was presented to them during the 95th Foundation Day of ICAR held in New Delhi. The prestigious ceremony was graced by the presence of Sh. Parshottam Rupala, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, and Sh. Kailash Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, who jointly felicitated the winning team. The event was further attended by Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICAR, and several other dignitaries.

PAU's Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the victorious team and commended their remarkable efforts in the competition. He encouraged them to continue their exemplary work in the field of agricultural biotechnology. Dr. H. S. Jat, Director of ICAR-IIMR, and Dr. Praveen Chhuneja, Director of PAU's School of Agricultural Biotechnology, also lauded the team members for their outstanding achievement and motivated them to pursue further research in this promising direction.

The team's success not only reflects their exceptional talent but also highlights the university's commitment to promoting cutting-edge research and innovation in the agricultural sector.