A high-level delegation from the Republic of Korea, comprising representatives of the Korean Society of Agricultural Machinery (KSAM), Chungnam National University and Suncheon National University, visited Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, and held parleys on prospective academic, research and technology partnerships. The interaction focused on shared priorities in agricultural mechanisation, smart farming systems and future-ready machinery for sustainable food production.
Notable foreign dignitaries included Professor Sun-Ok Chung, President, KSAM, Chungnam National University; Professor Hyuck Joo Kim, Ex-president, KSAM, Suncheon National University; Professor Ki Taeg Lee, Director, Korea Agricultural Mechanization Policy Institute, Suncheon National University; Jongmoon Kim, Director, Research Institute HMC; Mr. Chaejoo Kim, CEO, Life and Tech; Geon Hyeo Jee, Researcher, Korea Agriculture Technology Promotion Agency; Young-Tae Kim, Team Leader, Korean Agriculture Technology Promotion Agency; and So-Yeon Kim.
The visiting team engaged in detailed deliberations with Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, and officers of the university, covering areas such as joint research, faculty exchange, collaborative publications, student mobility and co-development of next-generation farm equipment. The meeting reflected growing convergence between Indian and Korean institutions in responding to labour shortages, climate stress and the need for precision-driven field operations.
During the interaction, Dr S.S. Gosal highlighted the university’s national and global standing, noting PAU’s consistent top ranking among India’s agricultural universities in recent national assessments and its entry into the global top 100 agricultural institutions. He underlined that the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology has played a decisive role in strengthening mechanisation across northern India, with several machines promoted under the Government of India’s Crop Residue Management programme originating from PAU designs. Attention was also drawn to the School of Digital Innovations for Smart Agriculture, which integrates artificial intelligence, Internet of Things platforms and data analytics to support real-time farm decisions. Developments such as satellite-guided auto-steered tractors, remote-controlled paddy transplanters and drone-based crop management were presented as practical responses to field challenges.
The Dean of the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Dr Manjeet Singh, outlined the college’s focus on blending mechanical systems with digital tools. He explained how AI, UAVs, sensors, robotics and GIS are being embedded into teaching and research, alongside the establishment of a ministry-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation to train rural youth in drone operations. He also shared progress on an agro-processing complex that demonstrates on-farm processing of cereals, pulses, oilseeds and jaggery. Advances in crop residue handling through smart seeder and super seeder technologies, as well as post-harvest solutions such as portable maize dryers, washing and grading systems and vegetable seeders, were discussed in detail. He also shared that the delegation will be visiting The Indian Agri Expo 2026 near Ludhiana scheduled from January 30 to February 1, 2026.
Members of the Korean delegation expressed strong interest in PAU’s field-oriented innovation model, particularly its ability to translate laboratory research into scalable machinery adopted by farmers. They indicated that the research directions pursued at Korean institutions aligned closely with PAU’s ongoing work. The delegates viewed the interaction as a foundation for structured collaboration in smart machinery design, joint experimentation and academic exchange.
The Korean Society of Agricultural Machinery serves as a leading academic platform advancing research in biosystems and agricultural machinery engineering. Working closely with major universities in South Korea, it encourages innovation in simulation, equipment design, automation, robotics and sustainable farming technologies. Chungnam National University plays a key role within this ecosystem through its departments of biosystems machinery, and smart agriculture systems. Research spans tractor power simulation, crawler-based platforms, performance assessment and AI-driven decision support, supported by Daejeon’s strong science and technology environment. Suncheon National University strengthens this framework through its College of Life Science and Industry, offering postgraduate training in advanced agricultural technology and field-based research supported through KSAM linkages.
The session was coordinated by Dr Vishal Bector, Associate Director (Institution Relations), who facilitated technical discussions and institutional dialogue. The visiting members were later presented with mementoes as a gesture of goodwill and academic camaraderie.