Dr. Tej Partap joins as ninth  

Vice-Chancellor of CSK HPAU

Dr.Tej Partap, a well-known authority on Hill and Mountain Agriculture, has joined as Vice-Chancellor of CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur on July 5, 2007. He is the ninth regular Vice-Chancellor of the University and had the privilege to serve in the same capacity from April, 2001 to June, 2004.He is credited with transforming this traditional Agriculture University into a leading Hill Agriculture University in the country. Dr.Partap is also known as National Expert on Organic Agriculture and has served as Executive Director, International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA) Bangalore, from 2004-2006 and was instrumental in starting India Organic Trade Fair to provide a platform for foreign buyers and Indian sellers. He assisted Planning Commission in preparation of eleventh five-year plan proposal for organic agriculture. This proposal paper is considered a landmark on the problems of hill farmers and throws new perceptions about various issues related to farming in the hills. He also remained consultant to the National Commission for Farmers in his capacity as An Expert on Hill Farming.

Dr.Tej Partap has over thirty years proven record of efficient programme leadership, fund raising and implementing projects and plans. He has formulated and implemented several International Projects contributing to agriculture based farming communities. He has in-depth knowledge of small farmers’ food security, livelihood concerns and sustainability.

Born on July 4, 1952 at village Preyee (Manikaran valley) in Kullu District, Dr.Tej Partap obtained his Ph.D. in Agro-Ecology from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla in 1983.He joined International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) as Associate Officer and rose to the position of Senior Officer and later as Division Head, Mountain Farming Systems Programme for seven years. He served ICIMOD for thirteen years and later joined Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, as Vice Chancellor.

Dr Tej Partap is Honorary Professor in Mountain Agriculture in Tibet Academy of Agriculture and Animal Sciences and also Honorary Professor of Mountain Agriculture at Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources, China since 1995.He is also Member, Board of Directors, ICCOA and has been Asia-Pacific Representative in the Global Mountain Forum.

He has vast experience in organizing International meetings, seminars, conferences and has published over 100 research papers and articles in International Journals, books, etc. and has written around 50 books and monographs. He has also visited several countries in connection with his professional obligations. Immediately after taking up the new responsibility on July 5, 2007, he addressed the University community on July 6, 2007. Following are some of the ideas put forth by the new Vice-Chancellor to speed up various activities in the arena of Teaching, Research, Extension, Finance and Administration:  

A.     Teaching

1. Obsolete courses are to be replaced with employment oriented courses. Education shall be made relevant to the need of time. Practical aspects shall be refined to make graduates more pragmatic in their approach.
2. Emphasis will be on overall development of the personality of the students and to infuse self-confidence in them to become successful entrepreneurs/find jobs in corporate sectors.
3. Soft skill experts to be invited for delivering lectures to the students.
4. Research and Teaching should go hand in hand for updating the knowledge of the teachers.
5. All modern tools of effective communications will be used in teaching. Instructions have, already, been passed to use LCD/Overhead projects etc. to digitalize delivery of lectures.
6. There shall be zero tolerance to ragging.
7. The Vice-Chancellor shall be open and accessible to students.

2. Research

1. Research shall be relevant to concerns, needs and opportunities of the State Farmers.
2. The University shall prepare such research projects which have direct benefit to the state farmers. More emphasis will be laid on farmers’ need based research by involving them in the research.
3. Research will be conducted keeping in view its utility to the farmer and its adoptability as per the resources of a common farmer.
4. Research should give maximum economic benefit to the farmers. The scientists shall be trained to prepare Mega Research Projects keeping in view the market demands of farm produce in coming times.
5. To establish an Institute of Organic Agriculture.

C.      Extension Education

1. The University shall try to reach the remote mountain villages/areas where it has not marked its presence (like Dodra Kwar, Pangi, Malana, etc.). Efforts shall be made to provide knowledge, skills and crop varieties which can provide food security to the inhabitants of such remote and inaccessible areas.
2. Effective steps shall be taken for quick transfer of the relevant technology to the farmers.
3. A number of demonstrations will be laid throughout the State on farmers’ fields to convince them about new scientific technology.
4. Farm produce marketing and its network with post harvest/processing industry to be emphasized. Efforts shall be made to link marketing with some export houses/concerns.
5. The University shall make all-out efforts to enhance its credibility among the farming community of the State so that they become spokespersons about the good work of scientific community.
6. Success stories shall be given importance in print and electronic media to convince other farmers.
7. More training programmes shall be organized for the farmers, young farmers, unemployed youth, farm ladies, etc., at main campus and all KVKs.
8. There shall be close collaboration between the University and State development departments, especially Departments of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry to serve the farmers in a better way.
9. The University shall pay more attention to small and marginal farmers for their socio-economic development.

D.      Financial Management

1. Expenditure to be curtailed.
2. Resource generation through sale of quality seed, plant material, farm & dairy produce, consultancy services, etc. to get priority.
3. More research projects shall be submitted to the funding agencies like Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Department of Biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of Rural Development etc. Even private and corporate sector need to be approached to conduct research as per the need of these sectors on payment basis.
4. Funding agencies shall be apprised about the good work in the University so as to maintain adequate flow of funds for Teaching, Research, Extension and other developmental activities.
5. Financial sources other than State Govt. shall also be tapped.

E.       Administration

1. Spirit of team-work shall be the ‘Mantra’ for all staff. Positive approach to be popularized. Common Development Agenda for the University to be planned and pursued in consultation with Teaching and Non-teaching Employees Unions.
2. Administration to be made transparent, efficient and vibrant.
3. Punctuality, discipline and dedication to duty desired from all employees.
4. Genuine effort to resolve genuine service problems of all employees.
5. Special efforts to be made to involve each employee of the University in its activities so that all feel proud to be part of development and a sense of belonging is instilled in employees.
6. Suggestions for improving and taking forward the University invited from all.

Chancellor Exhorts Scientists to Introduce New Technology

Presides Over 16th Senate Meeting of CSK HPKV

His Excellency, the Governor of Himachal Pradesh and Chancellor of the University, Sh. V.S. Kokje exhorted agricultural scientists to introduce new technology for quality agriculture produce in Himachal Pradesh. He was presiding over the 16th Meeting of the Senate of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur on March 23, 2007.

The Chancellor said, “Himachal is an agrarian state, where around 80 percent population is dependent on agriculture, so they need specific technologies to enhance their income. Such technologies could be adopted through research without burdening the common farmer.” Sh. Kokje further said, mostly, the farming in the state is rainfed, so acceleration of research efforts in this direction could make a large difference. Efforts should be made to bring more area under irrigation so that maximum number of farmers could be advised to grow high value cash crops under irrigated conditions, he added. He said that around 31,000 farmers participated in 726 training camps and another 32,000 farmers had participated in Kisan Melas and Kisan Gosthees recently. He advised the scientists to get a feedback from such trainees and participants, whether they had really benefited from such trainings and extensive efforts and how many of them had applied the newly-acquired skills.

          The Chancellor also emphasized the need for taking all possible steps to increase the income of the University. Unproductive expenditure should be curtailed and staff member should work towards generating income for the University. He also opined that the Annual Reports, Audited Annual Accounts and Annual Audit Reports should be prepared and submitted on time. Proper account should be maintained so that there were minimum audit objections and proper attention should be paid to settle audit objections, he added.

Directorate of Extension Education Organizes Workshop on Kharif Crops

Agriculture Minister, Sh. Raj Krishan Gaur while presiding over the Kharif-2007 “Agricultural Officers’ Workshop” on May 14, 2007 expressed his concern over deterioration of seed varieties and said past experiences had shown that farmers suffered huge losses due to sub-standard seeds supplied to them by various companies. He said this was the reason Himachal farmers were not keen to adopt new seeds recommended by the scientists.

Agriculture Minister said Himachal was the first State to adopt the Model Agriculture Act and had set up markets at suitable places, which had encouraged farmers to bring their produce directly to the market. Dr.K K Katoch, Director Extension Education stated that Directorate has started new programme of Saviour Windows for Soundness of Technologies (SWST) and feedback and Impact of Training Programmes. Dr. Satish Sharma, Director of Research presented the new technological recommendations.

Education Related Activities

The admissions to the Master's Degree Programmes for the Academic year 2007-08 were made on 26 July, 2007. A total 79 of candidates were selected in different programmes, of which 65 candidates reported for registration. In addition to this, 11 candidates were admitted against ICAR seats. The registration of fresh and continuing students for the 1st Semester (2007-08) was completed on 27-28 July 2007. During the registration of 1st Semester (2007-08) a sum of Rs.12,52,043/- was collected as fees (from Hostellers and Non-Hostellers) from the fresh and continuing students and Rs.6,00,000/- from Self-Financing seats.

Extension/Trainings/Meets

Front line demonstrations of manual paddy transplanter were carried out at farmers' fields in 11 villages of District Kangra and two villages in District Mandi. One month practical training of "Farm Mechanization, Equipment Fabrication, Testing, Repair and Maintenance of Power Tiller/Diesel Engine" was organized for the 15 students of College of Agricultural Engineering & Research, Panchavati, Maharashtra. Staff training on Biogas technology was organized for the officials of State Agriculture Department w.e.f. 25-27 July, 2007. Three Biogas users' training camps were organized at village Dhoran, Farerh and Thandol of Bhawarna block. The Department of Home Science Extension Education surveyed fifty self help groups of Baijnath Block to study their status. Exposure was given on drudgery reducing technology to the farm women of Padhiarkhar village on 10 July 2007.  Around 350 clinical cases were diagnosed and treated in the Veterinary Clinics and around 390 clinical samples were analyzed. Around 750 farmers visited the University and KVKs.  The Directorate of Extension Education and KVKs have conducted 31 trainings (7 in Directorate of Extension Education and 24 in KVKs).

Veterinary Graduates take Oath

An oath taking ceremony for the passing out Veterinary Graduates of the Dr.G.C.Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences was organized on July 21, 2007 at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur. Dr.V.K.Taneja, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, who was Chief Guest, said that the Veterinary Scientists of the University and the State Department of Animal Husbandry should join hands to prepare a vision document for livestock sector of the state. Dr.Taneja said that for food and nutritional security, animal protein can play an important role and there should be close interaction between agriculture and animal husbandry sectors. While extending a word of caution about upcoming dairy and poultry units around major cities in plains, he asked the veterinary scientists to study and suggest remedial measures for animal-human diseases and related problems. Dr.Tej Partap, Vice-Chancellor, while presiding over the function, asked the new graduates to look beyond secure career in government sector and come out with entrepreneurial skills.

Agriculture Graduates Bring laurel to CSKHPKV

The final year students of the College of Agriculture, CSKHPKV, Palampur have brought laurel to the alma mater. Out of the thirty students passed out in June, 2007, twenty two have been either selected for higher education in the prestigious institutions of the country or have been recruited by multi nationals.   According to  Dr. O.P.Sharma, Dean of the college, six students have qualified Indian Council of Agricultural Research’ Junior Research  Fellowship, two students have qualified the Jawahar Lal Nehru University  Examination for admission in Agricultural Bio-Technology and three students have cleared National Academy of Agricultural Management(MANAGE) test for Post Graduate Program in Agricultural Warehousing and Supply Chain Management. Besides this, three students have been selected as Executives in ‘Pest Control (India) Private limited’ and eight in ‘Pradan’, a prominent NGO.

Scientific advisory panel meets

Scientific Advisory Committee Meeting of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kangra was held on March 14, 2007. The meeting was chaired by Dr. D.S. Rathore, the then Vice-Chancellor of CSKHPKV Palampur and attended by HOD’s of various departments. Dr. Rathore underlined the need for crop diversification. He exhorted farmers to adopt a group approach to avoid exploitation by middlemen while marketing farm produce.

Workshop on Enhancing Communication Skill

The Directorate of Extension Education, CSKHPKV, Palampur in collaboration with the Public Relations Society of India (Himachal Pradesh Chapter) organized a workshop on “Enhancing Communication Skill” on April 20, 2007. More than fifty Scientists, Officers of the University and Public Relations Department participated in the workshop. Dr.K.K. Katoch, Director Extension Education was the Chief Guest of the day. Dr.Katoch stressed the need for true feedback by the public relations professionals so as to reach the management at right decision and also serve an effective link between the organization and people so that they are benefited from various ongoing programmes. A seminar on “Achieving Excellence in Public Relations through Information Technology” was also organized on April 21, 2007 in the Directorate of Extension Education by Public Relations Society of India-Himachal Chapter.

Technology Boon to Vegetable Growers

To promote protected farming in the state, particularly in the mid-hills, efforts of the Scientists of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur have started bearing results. Polyhouse protected cultivation of vegetables and its nursery is one of the technologies that are less dependent upon environment and require less capital. Of late, this technology has caught the fancy of farmers in the mid-hills that offer a congenial environment for off-season vegetables. Farm scientists say vegetables like Capsicum and Tomato can be grown successfully for eight to nine months in naturally ventilated polyhouses in the State.

Agriculture University Plans to Meet Growing Demand of Garden-Pea Seed

Agricultural scientists in CSKHPKV, Palampur see an immense need for producing high quality garden–pea seed in the state to avoid entry of diseases like rot and wilt that infest the pea crop particularly in the hills. To meet the growing demand of garden-pea seed, the Agricultural University, Palampur has taken an initiative to produce nucleus seed of four different varieties of the vegetable at its research stations in Palampur, Bajaura, Kukumseri and Akrot. Garden pea is one of the most popular off-season vegetables that offer lucrative returns to growers in the mid-hills.

New wheat variety 'HPW 251'

A new high yielding and disease resistant wheat variety HPW 251 developed by the wheat scientists of CSK H.P. Agricultural University, Palampur has been identified at the All India Wheat Workshop held at Pune. According to Dr.S.C.Sharma, Director of Research, the new wheat variety has been found suitable for cultivation under early sown rainfed conditions of the Northern Hill Zone of the country. The new wheat variety has high grain yield potential with average productivity of 34.43 q/ha. The variety has higher degree of resistance to yellow and brown rust. It provides replacement of VL 616 and HS 277 and an alternative to VL 829. It also possesses higher degree of tolerance to karnal bunt. The new variety is responsive to fertilizer application. This variety has exhibited complete resistance to flag smut disease. Dr.Tej Partap, Vice-Chancellor, has appreciated the scientists for developing new wheat variety for the rainfed areas as around 82 per cent farming in the state is rainfed.The new variety has been developed by Drs. S.C.Sharma, K.S.Thakur, S.C.Negi, S.K.Rana, Shyam Verma, S.L.Gartan, Dhirender Singh, Vijay Rana and Dhanbir Singh.

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Jharkhand Governor Visits HP Agriculture University

Jharkhand Governor Mr. Syed Sibtey Razi visited Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur on May 15, 2007. He addressed and interacted with Statutory Officers and Heads of Departments and asked them to bridge the gap between technology and fields. Jharkhand Governor Mr. Syed Sibtey Razi along with the first lady, Chand Farhana, visited various research spots including Horticulture Department, University Museum. The Governor said Jharkhand has twenty two districts with majority of tribal population having small land holdings. They have very less area under irrigation and want to increase their output following the example of Himachal Pradesh.

Memorandum of understanding with IHBT

To develop new disease-resistant crop varieties with high yields, the Agricultural University at Palampur has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource and Technology (IHBT) for advancement of transgenic in crop. Experts would work on Development of Transgenic Plants related to some of the important problems, including the Development of Resistance against Diseases caused by at least four fungal pathogens in pea and cabbage genotypes resistant against diamond back moth and cabbage butterfly. IHBT will provide gene construct and technical expertise for the development of transgenic in these crops. The then Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr.D.S. Rathore and Director of IHBT Dr. P.S. Ahuja signed the MoU.

Foundation Stone of Hill Farming School Laid

Dr. S.P. Tyagi, Deputy Director-General, Education (ICAR) on May 31, 2007 laid the foundation stone of Hill Farming School in Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur. Dr. Tyagi said that emphasis must be laid on vocational education and skill development to ensure employment opportunities in large scale. The opening of hill farming school was an effort in this direction where need-based self supporting programmes and non-degree courses can be started. CSKHPKV, Palampur has initiated efforts to provide hands-on-training to the unemployed farm youth and others. Dr.S.P.Tyagi, Deputy Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi after laying the foundation stone of Hill Farming School, said that to maintain relevance to the needs and challenges of new era, it was imperative to reorient Teaching, Research and Extension Education.

 New Hostel for girls

Member parliament, Mrs. Pratibha Singh inaugurated Bageshwari PG Hostel for Girls in Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur on March 28, 2007. On this occasion, the University authorities apprised the MP of the need for funds for upgrading facilities in CSKHPKV Palampur. Mrs.Pratibha Singh promised to take-up the matter with the State Government.  

Farmers’ Hostel Inaugurated at KVK Mandi

Dr D.S. Rathore, the then Vice-Chancellor of the University laid the foundation stone of farmers’ hostel in KVK Mandi at Sundernagar on March 15, 2007. The building, which would cost Rs.24 Lakh, will be utilized by the farming community of Mandi District while attending training programmes at the KVK.

Foundation Stone of Farmers’ Hostel at Palampur

Sh. Virbhadra Singh, Hon'ble Chief Minister, laid the foundation stone of farmers' hostel at CSKHPKV, Palampur on July 2, 2007 to be constructed at the total cost of Rs.1.5 Crore.  The new farmers' hostel is fully funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. Mr.Virbhadra Singh, on this occasion, advised the scientific community to gear up their research efforts for Second Green Revolution. He was addressing them after laying the foundation stone of farmers’ hostel.

Shri Virbhadra Singh, Hon'ble Chief Minister, laying the Foundation

Stone of Farmers' Hostel