KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Chairing the 29th University Council meeting of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), held at the Raj Bhavan in Jammu, Governor NN Vohra, Chancellor of SKUAST-K, observed that the Farm Universities should get involved and play a role in developing entrepreneurship in the State by imparting vocational and skill oriented training in the fields of scientific storage, dehydration, processing, packaging, handling and value addition of fruits, vegetables meat and poultry products in the State.
In the discussions in the Council the Chancellor and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Pro-Chancellor of the University reviewed the ongoing vocational training programmes and the locations where these are being carried out.
The Vice Chancellor, Dr Nazeer Ahmad was asked to undertake an assessment of the actual benefits of the “High Density Fruit Farming System in Kashmir Valley” project by carrying out a concurrent evaluation along with the State Agriculture Department. The Chancellor and the Pro-Chancellor also discussed the present status of the work being done by the Research Centre for Residue and Quality Analysis at SKUAST-K and directed Commissioner, State Agriculture Department, to ensure stringent action against anyone involved in the sale of spurious fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides in the State. The Chancellor also stressed the adoption of organic farm practices.
The Pro-Chancellor advised Vice Chancellor to suitably review the extant academic programmes to provide the students an increased opportunity of spending more time in field work. He also asked the VC to initiate dairy and poultry farming Pilot Projects for encouraging and guiding the rural youth to set up farming related ventures.
The Council had extensive discussions on the work done by the University for providing high yielding seeds to the farmers and significantly increasing the seed replacement rate. The Council stressed on the VCs of both the Farm Universities to educate the farmers for adopting new technologies and eco-friendly techniques for increasing production and productivity and shifting towards the commercially viable crops.
Dr Nazeer Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, made a detailed presentation on the various initiatives which had been undertaken by the University since the last Council meeting. He highlighted the academic achievements and informed the Council about the accomplishments secured in improving capacities and infrastructure development in the Farm University.
