A research scholar from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has secured first place in the poster presentation category at the National Food Conference AFSTI-NFC 2026 for her research on improving the growth and nutritional quality of little millet.
Nitika Garg, a research scholar in the department of botany at the College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, won the award for her poster titled “PGPR consortium for improving seedling growth and Zn–Fe biofortification in little millet”.
The research was carried out under the guidance of Namarta Gupta, professor-cum-head of the department of botany. Ruchika Bhardwaj, Pratibha Vyas and Meenakshi Goyal were the co-authors of the study.
The research focuses on the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to improve seedling growth and enhance the zinc and iron content of little millet, a nutritious crop with potential to contribute to food security.
PAU vice-chancellor Harvinder Singh Dhaliwal and Kamal Vatta, dean of the College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, congratulated Garg and her research adviser on the achievement.
They said the recognition reflected the academic excellence and research potential of the department of botany. They also highlighted the importance of innovative research in addressing contemporary agricultural and rural development challenges.
{{/usCountry}}They said the recognition reflected the academic excellence and research potential of the department of botany. They also highlighted the importance of innovative research in addressing contemporary agricultural and rural development challenges.
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