PAU scientist Dr Hira Singh shines at largest International Horticulture Conference in France

August 27 2022

Dr Hira Singh, Assistant Professor, Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has brought laurels to the University by attending and presenting his research work during the 31st International Horticultural Congress (IHC 2022), held at Angers, France from August 14 to 20, 2022. Dr Hira Singh was among the five Indian scientists to have attended this Congress and the only one from Punjab. More than 2,500 researchers from 88 countries participated and shared their views/opinions at the largest global Congress dedicated to specialized plant research. It may be mentioned that since 1959, IHC is the most important scientific event organised every four years under the auspices of International Society for Horticultural Science, Belgium.
Dr Hira Singh did his Ph.D as an in-service candidate on genomics and marker assisted breeding of onion from ICAR – Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. During the conference, he gave two oral presentations on hybrid breeding of Indian onion. He pointed out that hybridisation in Indian onion should be done on a large scale for the development of new hybrids possessing higher productivity and tolerant to various biotic and abiotic stresses under rapidly changing climate.
For this, marker assisted breeding strategy is the best option for this breeding program, he emphasised. His presentations received immense appreciation and in return, he was appointed as member of scientific committee of the upcoming European Symposium on Vegetables and Potato, scheduled to be held in 2023.
Besides, Dr Hira Singh chaired two scientific and technical sessions on Genomic Selection and Markers, and Resistance and Metabolites where internationally renowned researchers presented their innovative ideas and research. During these scientific sessions, he actively interacted with the scientists from France, Japan, USA, New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Italy and UK.
“It was a phenomenal experience to share a common platform with international scientists who were eager for collaborative work with PAU,” he added. He also interacted with Food and Agricultural Officials, Rome and other stakeholders.
Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU; Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research; Dr MIS Gill, Dean, College of Horticulture and Forestry; Dr Tarsem Singh Dhillon, Head, Department of Vegetable Science, congratulated Dr Hira Singh for the great achievement.
Dr Hira Singh has published more than 25 papers in the national and international journals of repute, seven book chapters, and one manual. Being a prolific writer, he has also served as Editor of PAU’s esteemed agriculture magazine “Changi Kheti” for four years and published more than 50 articles in the leading newspapers on various social and other issues.
Dr Hira Singh is recipient of Dr BR Sharma Gold Medal; Young Scientist Award 2021 by Agricultural and Environmental Technology Development Society, Uttarakhand; Best Oral Paper Award at UGC Sponsored Seminar, University of Delhi; Shiksha Rattan Puraskar by India International Friendship Society; Dr Daleep Singh Deep Award by PAU; Appreciation Award by COA Alumni; S Sajjan Singh Memorial Fellowship; Certificate of Excellence in Reviewing-2021; Academic Merit Certificate during B.Sc and M.Sc degrees; Swami Vivekanand Youth Award 2008 on National Youth Day; and Outstanding Participant during national level training program at GKVK, Bangalore in 2010.
Apart from this, he has worked at Ohio State University, USA as a visiting scientist for six months. He is also a member of various renowned national and international scientific professional societies such as American Society of Horticultural Sciences, USA; International Society of Horticultural Sciences, Belgium; Indian Academy of Horticulture Sciences, New Delhi; Punjab Academy of Sciences, Patiala, etc. Dr Hira Singh has acted as reviewer of various international and national reputed journals.