Ludhiana, December 9 Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with California State University, Fresno, US, to promote cooperation in crop improvement, biotechnology, natural resources, production and cultural practices, water and irrigation technology, and agricultural business. Under the MoU, the universities will facilitate exchange of scientists and technologists, exchange of research material, exchange of scientific literature, information and methodology, exchange of scientific equipment, will develop and implement collaborative research projects. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, and Dr Joseph I Castro, president, California State University, signed the agreement. A nine-member delegation from California State University, led by Saul Jimenez-Sandoval, visited PAU and interacted with senior officials and heads of various departments. Dhillon said PAU was committed to forge ties with other institutes and universities involved in developing quality manpower and research collaborations, both in the country and abroad. Highlighting the contribution of agricultural stalwarts, he said, Dr DS Athwal, father of wheat revolution in Punjab, and Dr GS Khush, internationally known rice breeder, have been instrumental in heralding Green Revolution. Navtej Singh Bains, director of research, shed light on research programmes and said: “California has 25.4 million acres of cropland and Punjab has 10.37 million acres. California exports almonds and walnuts to India while Punjab exports basmati rice to the US. The two universities can also work together for Kinnow mandarin, grapes, almonds and vegetable crops.”

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