Punjab Agricultural University signs MoU with CPRI

Ludhiana, Sept 1: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has said it has inked an MoU with Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Shimla for the production of breeder seed of notified potato varieties.

University Vice Chancellor B S Dhillon said this pact will strengthen the collaboration with CPRI, and their benefits will percolate to the end users more easily at affordable prices.

"This agreement will go a long way in producing sufficient quantities of the breeder seed of the popular potato varieties for production of foundation and certified seeds," he said.

He further added that due to agro-climatic conditions and local cost structure, there is a great potential to enhance potato production in the state and it can also help in crop diversification programme. Bir Pal Singh, Director, CPRI said the production of breeder seed by PAU will definitely help the farmers in the adoption of the varieties and will go a long way in making this crop profitable.

"The need of the hour is to develop dedicated team of scientists and technicians to handle the seed crop," he said.

"CPRI will provide virus free index tubers and training to the PAU scientists for raising seed crop under Stage-I to Stage-IV at PAU. This will be further multiplied by PAU, and Department of Horticulture, Punjab to produce foundation and certified seeds," said PAU Director Research S S Gosal.

PTI