Dr. Harpal Singh Randhawa Director cum Principal Entomologist PAU Regional Research Station Gurdaspur

Dr. Harpal Singh Randhawa working as Director cum Principal Entomologist at PAU Regional Research Station Gurdaspur. My date of birth March 1st, 1967 and I belongs to District Gurdaspur and it got independence one day later than other parts of the country due to dispute of more Muslim population.I completed all degrees from PAU Ludhiana. I got admission in B Sc Ag (Hons) in the year 1984 and completed M. Sc. (Entomology) in the year 1991, after that I Joined as Research Fellow in oil seed section department of plant Breeding PAU Ludhiana. I Joined as Entomologist at PAU Regional Research Station Gurdaspur in the year March 1993. I did Ph. D (Entomology) as in-service candidate in the year 2005 and promoted as Principal Entomologist in the year 2010 at this station.

My job responsibilities administrative work for station, to make survey and collection of new insect-pests, identification of new pests and study their life history for effective and suitable control measures, screening of breeding materials of field and horticultural crops against major pests, conduct multilocation research trials for pest management, production and sale of bioagents, teaching to UG/PG students, day to day advice/awareness to farmers for their field problems/about new technologies developed by PAU Ludhiana. I have Identified new insect-pests such as nut borer (Blastobasis huemeri), leaf roller (Statherotis leucaspis) of litchi, leaf beetle (Rhynchaenus magniferae) of mango & litchi, apple fruit fly (Bactrocera correcta), pigeonpea  pod borer (Maruca  vitrata), gram caterpillar (H armigera) of berseem seed crop, toon shoot borer (Hypsipyla grandella),  amaltas leaf roller (Nephopteryx eugraphella), white grub (Holotrichia consanguinea) of sugarcane, gall midge (Pauropsylla tuberculation) of satpatia ornamental tree, red pumpkin beetle (Aulacophora foveicolli) of rajmash and suggested suitable control measures for higher yield and better quality of produce.

Inspire of these nearly 52 recommendations have been developed and published 61 research papers/35 short communication/extended abstracts in refereed journals and proceedings of conferences, respectively for management of insect-pests of field, fruit and vegetable crops. The farmers have benefitted by the use of these developed technologies. The bioagents are also multiplied and released in the in the farmers fields was undertaken to reduce the insecticidal load in environment. Also taught different courses (80 times) of Entomology/Pathology/Biology to the undergraduate students and guided one M. Sc. (Ent) student as major advisor. All students got job in public and private sector those improved their living standard. I have also published 317 extension articles in farm magazines (Progressive Farming/Changi Kheti/Indian Farming/Indian Farmers Digest, News Papers and others). Delivered 357 lectures in the Agricultural Camps and 22 Radio/TV Talks to popularize PAU developed technologies.

The farmers followed the PAU technologies those reduce the cost of cultivation and enhanced their farm income. I reviewed forty two research papers as referee for publication in NAAS rated journals and many students completed their PG degrees well in time and also helped for different research workers. Nearly Rs 4.95 crore incomes generated for PAU through submission of research projects to various agencies, sale of quality seed, fruit fly traps and bioagents/biopesticides.

Role as Farm Incharge 1995-2000 & 2005-2014
Farm mechanization
Purchased Machinery: Tractor, Two Hydraulic Trolleys, Seed Grader, Rotavator, Multi Crop Planter, Multi Crop Thresher, Ridger, Aero blast Power Sprayer, Stubble Shaver, Leveller,  Power Seed Cleaner.

IRRIGATION FACILITY

• Installed 07 new submersible tube wells (Along with their Connections)
• Laid down underground irrigation pipe in field area of the station.
   

Administrative Experience

•  Incharge, Rice Research Scheme 1994 to 2000, Sugarcane Res. Scheme 2006 to 2011, Seed Production Section from 1994 to 2002 and 2005 to 2014.
•  Incharge Biocontrol Laboratory 2008 to onward and Agromet Advisory Service Unit 2012 to 2013. Developed Biocontrol lab/ two class rooms Under NHM Project   
• Co-convener of Teaching Affairs Committee and Member Anti ragging Committee at Institute of Agriculture RS Gurdaspur.
• Convener Extension Education Committee and Awareness Committee for Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Woman at Workplace.
• Nodal Officer for dealing with complaints received at PB-PGRAMS PORTAL.
• Convener implementation a uniform procedure for processing and forwarding of research papers from 2020 to onward.  

Committee Member

University Level: PAU Sports & Cultural Committees for the year 2008 to 2012.

• Academic Committee (Research) Department of Entomology PAU Ludhiana from 2007 to 2009.
• Administrative and Budget Committee, at PAU Regional Research Station, Gurdaspur.
• Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Gurdaspur District 1995 to onward and Agromet Advisory Board, 2007 to onward.
• Selection Committee for posts of RF and Jr. Field/Lab Helper/Scout/Farm Change Agents at RRS, KVK, FASC Amritsar & KVK Pathankot
• Recruitment committee for the post of Asstt. Professor (Contractual) at S. Beant Singh State University Gurdaspur,  Farmer Change Agents for   KVK Gurdsapur and Pathankot.
   

Distinctions/Fellowships                        

• Awarded with PARMAN PATRA for doing best service in Agriculture Field on Republic Day 2021  
• Received certificates of excellence for reviewing research manuscripts by different NAAS rated Journals.
•  Honored by the village Panchayat Sohal block Dhariwal (Gsp.) regarding promotion of Organic Farming dated 16^th November 2021.
•  Appreciation letters received from Worthy Vice-Chancellor, DR/DEE PAU Ludhiana and Director RRS Gurdaspur for organizing Regional Kisan Melas/Conducting live demonstrations/experiments.   
•  Runner-up (two times) in Inter-College Kabaddi Competition, PAU Ludhiana and participated in Inter-Varsity of Kabaddi  Competition at GB Pant University Pant Nagar  
•  Merit Scholarship from Punjab School Education Board SAS Nagar Mohali in Hr. Sec. Class.
   

Membership of scientific societies/committees etc.            

•  Indian Society for the Advancement of Insect Science 2002 to onward.
• Entomological Society of India New Delhi (2014 to onward).
• Society for the Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture (2013-14).
• The Crop Improvement Society of India (2012-13).
• Society for Advancement of Science and Rural Development (2017-2018).
• Society of Pesticide Science of India (2020-23)
• Plant Protection Association of India (2020-21)
• Association of Entomologists Punjabi University of Patiala (2014-15).
• Legume Research, Agricultural Science Digest,  Indian Journal of Agricultural Research (ARCC) for different years.