Dr SVR Shetty, one of the co-founders of GRSV, was invited by the Punjab Agricultural University to deliver the Dr Hardyal Singh Gill Memorial Lecture on 07 April 2026. This first Dr H S Gill memorial Lecture was organized by the Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University under the aegis of Dr Hardyal Singh Gill Distinguished Professor Chair in Weed Science.
Dr Gill was a renowned Weed Scientist of national repute who laid a strong foundation of weed research at PAU during late 1960s and early 1970s. Weed management programmes developed by Dr Gill helped in sustaining the productivity of new genotypes of not only wheat and rice but also other crops of the state which made Green Revolution establish roots in the region. The science based integrated weed management techniques/practices developed under Dr Gill’s leadership helped in building the confidence of Punjab farmers in terms of increased level of investments in inputs like irrigation, fertilizers, machinery, and pesticides during the green revolution phase.
Dr Shetty discussed the present landscape of rainfed agriculture in India and the importance of weed management in the farming. He deliberated on sustainable agronomic practices for major cropping systems in India. He stressed on the point that sustainable agronomic practices are crucial because they protect soil health, conserve water, reduce chemical dependency, and ensure long-term food security while supporting farmers’ economic stability. In India, where agriculture sustains millions of livelihoods, adopting these practices is vital to balance productivity with environmental preservation, he observed. Dr Shetty provided an in-depth exploration of the research issues and how we can address the challenges faced by modern agriculture and ensuring sustainable weed management.
(For more information, see the pdf version of the presentation which is available in the Papers and presentations Section)