In a bid to take technologies developed in its labs to the farmers’ fields, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) inked a pact with Alamdar Seeds, based in Gujarat, for the licensing of a berseem variety ‘BL 45.’ Dr Mahesh Kumar, Additional Director of Research (Agricultural Engineering); and Mr Zahid Husain Bhimani from Alamdar Seeds, signed the Memorandum of Agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. Dr Khushdeep Dharni, Associate Director Technology Marketing and IPR Cell; Dr SK Sandhu, Head, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics; and Dr Ruchika Bhardwaj, Senior Millets Breeder, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, were also present at the MoA signing ceremony.
Dr Ruchika informed that BL 45 developed by PAU is a high-yielding late maturing multi-cut berseem variety with high green fodder and dry matter yield. “BL 45 possesses better nutritional quality in terms of crude protein yield. This variety is resistant to stem rot and tolerant to insect-pests of berseem. BL 45 has been released and notified for North-West, Hill and Central zones of India including Terai part of Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra,” she added.
Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research, congratulated the scientists as well as the company for sharing the responsibility of the proliferation of the variety, developed by PAU.
Dr Dharni stated that PAU is ensuring the dissemination of its varieties and technologies to the masses through the process of commercialization. He further said that the varieties developed by Punjab Agricultural University are very popular in the national market.