India, March 23 -- The vice chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Satbir Gosal, told the farmers at the Kisan Mela that hybrid rice is not recommended by the Varsity, and encouraged farmers to instead retain and reuse seeds of university developed varieties. Addressing concerns about pesticide residue in basmati rice, he promoted the use of Trichoderma for residue-free cultivation and encouraged diversification with indigenous cotton. Gosal spoke on PAU's growing global reach, noting that the Mela is now broadcast online. He highlighted PAU's infrastructure expansion, including global-level improvements to the university library initiated by Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Harchand Singh Barsat.

Ajmer Singh Dhatt, senior admini...