Visit to PAU- Regional Research Station, Kapurthala

Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, DAV University, Jalandhar, organized an educational visit to the Regional Research Station (RRS), Kapurthala of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on 1st April 2026 for B.Sc. Agriculture (3rd and 4th year) students. The visit was aimed to provide practical exposure to crop improvement (production and protection), seed production techniques, and lab-based research, complementing theoretical learning. Three faculty members (Dr. Sonika Sharma, Dr. Ashutosh Sharma, and Dr. Anju Pathania) also accompanied the students from DAV University. Dr. Gulzar Singh Sanghera, Director (RRS), and the other scientists of the station, Dr. Rajinder Singh, Dr. Anuradha Sharma, Dr. Navdeep Jamwal, and Dr. Inderpal Kaur warmly welcomed the students and explained the research mandate of the station for developing the improved crop varieties. An interactive session allowed the students to engage with scientists on various research initiatives taken up by the staff. Field visit covered AICRP trials (IVT, AVT, PRT) for wheat and sugarcane, demonstrating varietal evaluation, selection, agronomic practices, performance criteria, and resilient variety identification. Students observed seed production trials and nurseries, learning nucleus, breeder, and foundation seed stages, genetic purity via rouging, isolation distances, and quality controls. They explored seed germination nurseries for germination testing, viability, and vigor assessment. Lab visits included biocontrol lab (eco-friendly pest management, beneficial organism multiplication) and biochemistry lab (analytical techniques for plant/soil samples in nutrient management and crop improvement). Visit Outcome: The visit enhanced practical knowledge of crop improvement, seed production, and research; bridged theory and field applications; fostered scientific thinking; and enriched academic learning.