STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Chairing the 30th University Council meeting of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), held here on Monday, Governor N.N Vohra, Chancellor of the University, observed that as a step towards achieving the food security goal the present levels of production and productivity should be bench-marked and pragmatic targets set for each of the pilot projects so that progress achieved can be measured after every harvest season. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Pro-Chancellor of the University and Ghulam Nabi Lone, Minister for Agriculture, participated in discussions.
The Governor and the Chief Minister released several publications brought out by the University: SKUAST-Journal of Rsaerch; Annual Report 2014-15; Objective Sericulture; Envisioning Urbanization Process, Issues, Extent, Drivers and Implications: A case of Mountainous State of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Council congratulated the VC for the re-accreditation of the University for five years (2015-20) and for getting Department of Biotechnology Star College status for the Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura.
At the Governor’s instance the VC explained the arrangements made for continuing teaching and research programmes in the University during the period of unrest in the Valley. The Chancellor advised the VC to plan for construction of additional residential facilities, particulalry for the girl students, within the Campuses so that teaching work could be carried out on a sustained basis.
Chief Minister suggested introduction of short term certificate courses in agriculture, horticulture and other allied sectors and urged the VCs of both the Farm Universities to encourage and guide the youth and young entrepreneurs, particularly women, to set up farm related co-operatives with the support of the financial institutions and the State Government.
To ensure wider dissemination of information relating to new technologies and improved farm practices both the VCs were advised to publish in local language weeklies, produce TV programmes, highlight achievements of progressive farmers, institute awards for best performances in farm practices,educate the farmers for adopting new technologies, eco-friendly techniques for increasing production and productivity.
The Vice Chancellors were also advised to provide the students increased opportunities of spending more time in the farmers fields. The VCs were also urged to expand the specialized farm practices introduced in the model villages to the other areas also. The Council discussed the work done by the University for providing high yielding seeds to the farmers and significantly increasing the seed replacement rate and reviewed the to-date position of the ongoing programme to establish High Density Apple orchards which would yield much larger incomes within 3-4 years of planting.
Among those who attended the meeting were Prof. C.D. Mayee (Member), President South Asia Biotechnology Centre, New Delhi; Narendra Singh Rathore, Dy. Director General (Edu), ICAR; B.B Vyas, Financial Commissioner, Planning; P.K. Tripathi, Principal Secretary to the Governor; R.K Goyal, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production Department (Incharge); Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu; Dr. Ishaq Wani, Director ((Budget) and Prof. M.H Wani, Registrar, SKUAST- K.
