PAU appoints 'Kinnow Queen' non-official member of board

Progressive farm woman Karamjeet K Danewalia, alias, Kinnow Queen, from Danewala village of Fazilka district in Punjab has been appointed as non-official member of the management board of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) for a term of three years as informed by a release on Wednesday.

Giving information, PK Khanna, PAU registrar, said: "Danewalia has been appointed in category of progressive farmwoman following the approval by Punjab governor Shivraj Patil. A successful kinnow grower, Danewalia has made tremendous contribution to horticulture."

She has been credited of creating a world record production of 132.2 tonnes of kinnow in one hectare in 2001. Hailing from an agriculturist family, Danewalia has been growing kinnow mandarin for the past 35 years.

Her excellence in kinnow cultivation has earned her a title “Kinnow Queen.” She went to California, the US, to learn about the improved techniques of kinnow processing and packaging.

Besides, she is apt in making phulkaris, knitting rugs, and spinning wheel. The lady farmer is the active campaigner against social vices like female feticide.

Danewalia is recipient of Sardarni Jagbir Kaur Memorial Innovative Woman Farmer Award 2012; Champion Female Farmer Award 2012; Best Kinnow Grower of Punjab 2012; and Award of Honour (progressive women farmer), presented to her by Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal.

In addition, she has won several prizes at the state and district level citrus shows.