Dr. Gurpreet Singh Makkar is a Senior Extension Scientist (Entomology) and Incharge of the Plant Clinic at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, with over 19 years of experience in research, teaching, and extension. An expert in economic entomology, integrated pest management, and apiculture, he has held key administrative positions across several Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in Punjab. He has served as Deputy Director (Training) at KVK Ropar, KVK Ludhiana, and KVK Faridkot, and has also held additional charge of KVK Langroya, KVK Ropar, and KVK Ferozepur. Dr. Makkar is a recipient of several prestigious awards and recognitions, including the Rothamsted International Fellowship (United Kingdom), the Baba Ganga Singh Memorial Award for Ph.D. (PAU), the Best KVK Award of Zone-I (2nd position out of 69 KVKs, conferred by ICAR-ATARI, Zone-I), the Achiever Award 2015 (Society of Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan), the Farm Literature Popularization Award (PAU), among many other honors for scientific innovation and extension outreach. He has published extensively in high-impact scientific journals and has contributed to farmer-oriented literature, including training manuals, technical bulletins, popular articles, and newsletters. He also serves as the Associate Editor of Kheti Sandesh, the digital weekly of PAU.
Professional Accomplishments (salient)
Name of the Project Handled | Awarding Agency |
Development and dissemination of ecological engineering-based IPM model for basmati rice in farmer participatory mode | NABARD |
National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)-ICAR-110 | CRIDA Hyderabad |
Promotion of agricultural mechanization for in-situ management of crop residue in the states of Punjab, Haryana, UP and NCT of Delhi- ICAR-127 (PC-2469) | ICAR, New Delhi |
District-Agro Meteorological Units (DAMU) project. ICAR 109 (PC2496) | IMD/ICAR, GOI |
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan. CSS-94 (PC-6255) | IIT Delhi, MHRD, GOI |
Salient Research Publications:
Prasad JVNS, Veni VG, Srinivasarao C, Kundu S, Ramakrishna B, Reddy KS, Singh R, Singh SK, Rohilla PP, Makkar GS, Rampal VK, Grover J, Brar JS, Goyal NK, Jakhar DS, Kiran BVS, Singh VK and Bhaskar S (2023). Can adoption of climate resilient management practices achieve carbon neutrality in traditional green revolution states of Punjab and Haryana?. Journal of Environmental Management, 338:117761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman. (Elsevier) (NAAS rating – 14.93)
Ankurdeep Preety and Makkar GS (2024) Scaling up of sesame production under cluster frontline demonstration technology transfer programme in Punjab, India. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 34(3): 681-688. https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2024.3.0754 (NAAS rating 6.70)
Suri KS, Singh D, Kooner R, Kalra S, Makkar GS and Deosi K (2024) Impact of Different Crop Production Systems on Insect Pests’ Incidence, Soil Microflora and Quality of Spring Tomato under North-Indian Conditions. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 26(1): 97-109. https://dx.doi.org/10.22034/JAST.26.1.97 (NAAS rating – 7.28)
Singh Sandeep, Sandhu RK, Sharma RK, Kaur P, Makkar GS and Randhawa HS (2022) Field efficacy of biorational and chemical insecticides against mango leaf hoppers (Amritodus atkinsoni and Idioscopus spp). Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 92(10): 1274-1278. https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v92i10.120584 (NAAS rating – 6.37)
Makkar GS, Bhatia D, Suri KS and Kaur S (2019). Insect resistance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.): Overview on current breeding interventions. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 39, 259–272. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-019-00038-1 (NAAS rating – 6.66)
GenBank NCBI Accessions & BOLD IDs: 17
International Book Chapter:
Makkar G S and Bentur J S (2017) Breeding for Stem Borer and Gall Midge Resistance in Rice. pp. 323-352. In: Arora R and Sandhu S (eds) Breeding Insect Resistant Crops for Sustainable Agriculture. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6056-4_11
Paper presented in International Workshop:
Makkar GS, Freeman J and Aradottir G (2019). Investigating the effects of methyl-jasmonate and silicon on the susceptibility of cereals to insect pests. Oral presentation in workshop entitled ‘Plant Science Research Day’ held at Rothamsted Research, U.K. on July 17, 2019.
International Workshop
Attended ‘Monogram 2019’ at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom w.e.f. 30 April to 2 May 2019
Name: Dr. Amit Salaria
Designation: Extension Scientist (Agronomy)
Phone: +91 9417188183
E Mail: amitsalaria@pau.edu
Google scholar id:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UPFpTCcAAAAJ&hl=en&authuser=2
Research Gate id: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amit-Salaria/research
Orcid id: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2000-0350
Vidwan ID: 642068
Amit Salaria is an Extension Scientist in the Directorate of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, with over 15 years of professional experience. He holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture, M.Sc. in Agronomy, and a Doctorate in Agronomy from PAU, Ludhiana. His academic specialization includes dryland farming, organic farming, and conservation agriculture. Dr. Salaria has made significant contributions to the popularization and dissemination of improved dryland technologies in the sub-mountainous Kandi region of Punjab. In recognition of his outstanding work in the field of dryland agriculture, the centre was honored with the Chaudhary Devi Lal Award. Currently, he is serving at the Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC), which functions under the direct control of the Director of Extension Education. Here, he and other scientists provide regular technical services to visiting farmers. His academic portfolio includes 13 research papers, 38 extension articles and conducted 40 short duration trainings for farmers and extension functionaries. He is also a life member of the Indian Society of Agronomy.
Research Publication
S Sidhu, Aulakh C S, Salaria A, Rani N, Singh S and Gulab Pandove (2024) Productivity, profitability and soil health of Gobhi sarson (Brassica napus L.) as influenced by organic nutrition and planting geometry. Agric Res J 61 (4): 531-538.
Singh G, Egbueri E C, Wani O A, Salaria A and H Singh (2023) Seasonal variation of the quality of groundwater resources for human consumption and industrial purposes in the central plain zone of Punjab, India. Environ. Monit. Assess. 195:1454.
Singh G and A Salaria (2023) Delineation of Spatial Variability of Soil Fertility through Digital Soil Maps: A case study of Central Plain Zone of North-West India. Agric. Mech. in Asia: 54 (8):15469-87.
Singh G, Batra N, Salaria A, Wani O A and Jugraj Singh (2021) Groundwater quality assessment in Kapurthala district of central plain zone of Punjab using hydrochemical characterstics. J. Soil Water Conserv. 20(1): 43-51.
Sharma V, Salaria A, Singh M J, Kumar V, Singh S, Sharma S C, Chary G R and P Sandhu (2017) Impact of Improved Dryland Technologies on Sustainable Crop Productivity and Efficient Utilization of Resources in Submontane Punjab. Indian J. Dryland Agric. Res. & Dev. 32(1): 01-10
Name: Dr.Madhu Shelly
Designation: Extension Scientist (Animal science)
Phone: 9643442427
E-mail: gmshelly786@pau.edu
Research Areas: Animal science extension
Dr.Madhu Shelly is an Extension Scientist in Animal science with over 14 years of experience in Extension work and academic teaching. She earned her B.V.Sc. & AH degree and M.V.Sc. from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and completed her Ph.D. from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana. Her academic specialization includes Animal Nutrition and Animal Husbandry Extension. She has extensive field experience and is a dedicated to the good of grassroot people. At PAU, Dr.Madhu Shelly contributes significantly to animal science, extension and under-graduate teaching while still being taking up vocational courses for farmers in University KVKs. She is an active contributor in PAU weekly digital magazine, Kheti Sandes. Her academic portfolio includes 12 research papers and more than 80 popular articles in a variety of magazines including, Kheti sandesh, change kheti/Progressive farming, modern Kheti, Livestock technology, Vigyanak pashu Palan.
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Research Projects completed:
Co-PI, Research Project entitled “Interventions of low-cost technologies for upliftment of SC
community livelihood in Ludhiana district of Punjab” funded by Punjab State Council for
Science and Technology.”
Research publications
Extension publications
Name : Dr Ritu Raj
Designation: Extension Scientist Plant Pathology
Mobile: +91-9023638985
Email: rituraj1610@pau.edu
Education: B.Sc. Agriculture (Hons.)(2011), M.Sc. Plant Pathology PAU, Ph. D Plant Pathology PAU, Ludhiana (2017)
Positions held: Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology (PAU-KVK-Nurmahal)(2017-2023), Extension
Scientist Plant Pathology (DEE, PAU, Ludhiana)(2023)
Field of Specialization: Plant Pathology
Research Interests:
Research Projects/Extension projects:
Selected Research Publications (maximum up to 5):
AWARDS/HONORS/DISTINCTIONS