STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Governor N.N. Vohra, Chancellor of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Jammu (SKUAST-J), inaugurated a two day Kisan Mela at the Chatha Campus of the University, here on Friday. This Mela has been organised on the theme of ‘Integrated Farming: Profitable and Sustainable Farming’.
Governor complimented the Vice Chancellor, Faculty, staff and students of the University for successful completion of 17 years of its existence. He observed that the University has come a long way since its inception and is beginning to become known outside the State.
The Governor observed that agriculture and its allied sectors are the backbone of the State’s economy and it is, therefore, important that every effort is made to improve, upgrade and modernize agricultural production and allied activities. He said that the development of agriculture will benefit nearly 70 % of the State’s population and it is important to ensure that the research done in the Farm Universities is adequately focused on developing improved seeds and plants and pragmatic techniques for achieving higher productivity in the rainfed areas which comprise over 60 % of the farm lands in the State and much higher in the Jammu region.
The Governor stressed the significance of adopting integrated farming as it is the most suitable model for the arid and rainfed areas, with high potential of bringing substantial economic benefits to the farmers.
The Governor stressed the urgent need to rear quality breed of cattle and goats for the State to become self reliant in the production of dairy and meat products. He observed that the State was importing mutton, fish, poultry and milk products worth nearly two thousand crores from outside the state every year. He noted that if effective initiatives are taken, J&K should be exporting meat, fish, poultry and dairy products.
Earlier the Governor visited all the stalls set up at the Mela, interacted with the farmers and scientists and appreciated the University’s initiative of organizing this Mela, which had the active participation of a number of Agricultural Universities, agriculture and allied departments, KVKs of the University and farmers.
