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Nauni scientist bags award for book on ‘increasing farm incomes via solar drying’

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Nauni Varsity scientist's book on solar drying

Solan-Dr RK Aggarwal, Scientist of the Department of Environmental Science at the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni, has bagged second prize from the Government of India for his book on through solar drying of fruits and vegetables.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), GOI has awarded the national level prize under its natural energy award scheme. The prize has been awarded for the year 2016 to Dr Aggarwal’s Hindi book titled, ‘Saur Urja Dwara Fasalon se Aaye Vridhi’.

It includes a cash award of Rs 60,000. The book contains various aspects of solar drying technology based on his field experiences since the year 1990.

While thanking the University for providing opportunities to work in the field of renewable energy, Dr Aggarwal said,

The book is focused on improving the quality of dried products along with considerably enhancing markets rates of the produce. Because of it being highly cost-effective, solar drying will immensely benefit the farmers, particularly women. The value addition of products will not only increase the income of farmers, but will also empower the women.

He added that the book would also be useful for students and other stakeholders working on solar drying. He also thanked the MNRE and Science for Equity Empowerment and Development (SEED) division of DST for funding the projects for over 25 years to develop solar dryers for the farming community. These dryers established under this project have been established in various parts of Himachal and Uttarakhand.
Dr Aggarwal has an experience of over 25 years in research and development in the field of renewable energy and seven years experience in climate change and environmental science.

He is credited with the development of indirect solar drier of 25 kg capacity for the drying of fruits, vegetables, seeds and medicinal plants.

Solar dryer by Dr RK Aggarwal

Indirect Solar Drier & Improved Stove for High Altitude Areas

He has also developed an improved version metal cook-stove for the high altitude areas for cooking, water heating, and space heating under the National Programme on Improved Cook-stove.
He completed his B.Sc, M.Sc, and M.Phil from the Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. In 2003, he completed his P.hD from the Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut.

Dr HC Sharma, Vice Chancellor of the university, congratulated Dr Aggarwal for bringing laurels to the university and the state. He added that the solar drying techniques elaborated in the book could help to meet the twin goals of reducing food waste along with enhancing farm incomes.

Dr PK Mahajan, Dean College of Forestry and Dr SK Bhardwaj, Professor and Head of Department of Environmental Science also congratulated Dr Aggarwal on the occasion.

Campus Watch

Nauni Varsity Scholar Naincy Bags Scholarship to Pursue PhD in France

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Naincy Sagar uhf nauni scholar

Solan: Naincy Sagar, an alumna of Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni has bagged a fellowship for pursuing PhD from France. Nancy has reached France and will be pursuing PhD in Forest Genetics from the University of Orléans under INRAE fellowship. INRAE is France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment.

Naincy has completed her BSc Forestry from College of Horticulture and Forestry (COH&F), Neri in 2018 and MSc Forest Biology and Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources from UAS, Dharwad, under ICAR’s National Talent Scheme. Before leaving for France last week, Naincy was working as a Junior Research Fellow in a research project at COH&F, Neri.

She had applied for a PhD with a scholarship in Forest Genetics which was advertised by INRAE. Naincy was successful in the interview and was awarded a fellowship for three years for pursuing PhD at the University of Orléans. During the course of the PhD, she will receive a total scholarship of around Rs 70 lakh along with medical reimbursement. Naincy will be working on forest tree larch species in the Project titled ‘Vigour at what cost? ‘Trade-off’ of hybrid vigour in Larch-Phenological, morphological and physiological determinants of hybrid superiority in Larix X eurolepis’ with a team of 20 scientists of Joint Integrated Biology Research Unit having expertise in genetics, genomics and physiology for the enhancement of tree and forest diversity

Dr. Parvinder Kaushal, Vice-Chancellor of the university spoke to Naincy via web conferencing and congratulated her. Dr. Kaushal, who has also done his doctorate from France, shared some tips and suggestions. He asked Naincy to explore this opportunity to learn about new cultures along with doing research that could help to enhance and conserve forest wealth in the future.

Naincy expressed gratitude towards her father Satya Prakash Sagar (Retd. SDO BSNL) and mother Monika Sagar, who is working as SDO in BSNL for their continuous support for higher studies. She also thanked Vice-Chancellor Dr. Parvinder Kaushal, Dean Dr. Kamal Sharma and Dr. Dushyant Sharma, Project Investigator and all the university staff for their support and guidance. The university administration, Dean of COH&F Neri congratulated Naincy and wished her success.  

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HP University Extends College Admission Date for 2021-22 Session Till Oct 25

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hpu college admissions 2021-22 dates

Shimla-Dates for admissions to undergraduate courses for the session 2021-22 in colleges affiliated to Himachal Pradesh University has been extended, which has come as a relief to not only those students who were seeking fresh enrollments in the first year but also to the students of the second and third year. 

The varsity informed that the decision was taken after considering requests received from various students regarding the same.  

Now, willing students can apply for enrollment in both government and private colleges till 5 PM, October 25, 2021.

This extension of date would benefit students who recently passed supplementary exams or those students of the second and third-year who had missed admission due to delay in declaration of their previous results.

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UHF Nauni Extends Admission Dates for UG, PG, PhD Till Oct 18

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uhf nauni admissions 2021 dates

Solan– Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni, has extended the last date for applying to various Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral programmes in Horticulture, Forestry, Biotechnology, Agribusiness and Business Management. Applicants can submit their complete online application on the university’s admission portal till 18th October.

The normal seats of BSc (Hons) Horticulture, BSc (Hons) Forestry and B Tech Biotechnology will be filled on the basis of scorecard of ICAR-AIEEA (UG) 2021.

Admissions to MSc, MBA (Agribusiness) and PhD (for normal and self-financing seats) will also be conducted on the scorecard of ICAR AIEEA (PG) and AICE-JRF/SRF respectively. Students who have appeared in the ICAR-AIEEA 2021 for UG and PG, or AICE-JRF/SRF examination and are interested in seeking admission, such students must fill the university online application form before 18th October. Undergraduate aspirants who have not appeared in the ICAR test can however apply for the self-financing seats for B Sc and B Tech Biotechnology programmes run by the university by filling the online application on the university website.

The university has also advised the registered candidates to submit complete online application forms along with online payment acknowledgement slip before the due date. The schedule for online counselling will be announced by the University on the website after the declaration of the ICAR examination result. Application forms other than online mode will not be accepted.

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