The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has bestowed “Professor Baldev Singh Dhillon Distinguished Chair Award” upon Dr Ajmer Singh Brar, Principal Agronomist-cum-Incharge, Centre for Water Technology and Management, Department of Agronomy, PAU. He joined PAU as Agronomist at Regional Research Station, Gurdaspur in the year 1998 after completing B.Sc. from MDS University, Ajmer in the year 1992 and M.Sc. and Ph.D. (Agronomy) from PAU, Ludhiana in the year 1996 and 2008, respectively. He has published 110 research papers, boasting H-index of 23, and 1651 citations. He has guided nine M.Sc. and four Ph.D. students, with one receiving the Jawahar Lal Nehru Best Thesis Award (2018). His research focuses on water-saving technologies, and developing 33 PAU-recommended practices including IoT-enabled irrigation and AI-driven sub-surface drip systems, saving 23.3% water in rice-wheat systems. His extension work involves disseminating technologies through field days, on-farm trials, and training lectures, alongside policy contributions to Punjab’s Irrigation Plans and Water Resources Acts. His global collaborations with institutions like the University of Cambridge and World Bank enhanced PAU’s research profile. He is already a recipient of PAU Appreciation Certificate in 2018, Dr Harcharan Singh Sandhu Memorial Award for 2019-20, Award of Plaque and Merit Certificate for 2020-21 and Prof Manjeet S Chinnan Distinguished Professor Chair during 2022.
The PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal; Director of Research Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt; Dean of Postgraduate Studies Dr Manav Indra Singh Gill and Director of Extension Education Dr Makhan Singh Bhullar applauded and congratulated Dr Brar for being proactive approach in fetching research grants, teaching students and translating research outcomes into practical solutions for the stakeholders. The Head, Department of Agronomy Dr Hari Ram also wished Dr Brar continued growth and remarkable achievements in all the future endeavors.