Formulate law for regulating conversion of agricultural land: Governor

Governor and Chief Minister chairing Council Meeting of SKUAST-K.
Governor and Chief Minister chairing Council Meeting of SKUAST-K.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 23: Governor N.N Vohra, Chancellor of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), chaired the 32nd Council meeting of SKUAST-K at the Raj Bhavan today.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Pro Chancellor of the University, Lal Singh, Minister for Forest, Ecology & Environment; Syed Basharat Ahmad Bukhari, Minister for Horticulture and Abdul Ghani Kohli, Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry & Fisheries participated in the meeting.

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Chancellor released two research based publications brought out by the University: High altitude water conservation technology in cold arid desert of Ladakh and Fishery sector in J&K (Analysis of structural changes, public investment & institutional support).
Chancellor and Pro Chancellor urged Minister for Horticulture the importance of time bound action being taken to develop Controlled Atmosphere Stores and Cold Storage units within and outside the State to enable fruit growers and farmers to get better returns on their produce. Pro Chancellor informed that the Railways Ministry has assured help in providing better transport facilities for timely movement of the apple crop produced in the Valley.
Governor emphasized the vital need for the State Government to establish a marketing  strategy for all items produced  in the State, to incentivize higher production. He also stressed the need for strengthening the fisheries, animal husbandry, poultry farming, silk worm rearing, saffron and other sectors through effective marketing interventions.
Chancellor  also stressed the need for early formulation of a well considered Horticulture policy, effective pesticide control measures, and adoption of best managerial practices for agriculture and its allied fields. In this context he pointed to the need for strengthening the Faculty of Horticulture of SKUAST-K and advised against any hurried decision to set up a University of Horticulture.
Chancellor advised the Principal Secretary Planning to urgently constitute a committee for identifying the reasons for the poor level of lifting of the seed produced by the University consequent to the indent laced on it by the Agriculture Production Department. He also cautioned that the farmers must be provided seeds timely.
Referring to the rapid pace at which good agricultural land was being converted to other uses, Chancellor advised the urgent formulation of a law for regulating the conversion of agricultural land  for any other use.
Minister for Forest, Ecology & Environment suggested introduction of procurement of produce by the State Government for safeguarding interests of the farmers and suggested that the Universities should bring out new varieties which enhance quality of the farm products besides merely increasing their production.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor Dr. Nazeer Ahmed made a detailed presentation on the various activities of his Universityand informed that a case study had been done on the impact of climatic change on land use and land cover of Pir Panchal region covering district Budgam and part of district Srinagar, and said that the findings were cause for serious concern for agriculture.
The Council approved various agenda items of the University including: Two tier Career Advancement Scheme for Non-teaching employees of the University; adoption of upper age limit i.e. 48 years in respect of ex-servicemen for direct recruitment for the posts of Security Officer and Security Guard of the University as prescribed by the State Government; change of nomenclature of Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex to Division of Veterinary Clinical Complex, as per VCI Guidelines of 2016; adoption of UGC/ICAR notification regarding exemption of NET essentiality for direct recruitment by selection to the post of Assistant Professor and equivalent for the candidates registered for Ph.D prior to 11th July, 2009; adoption of 5th Deans Committee Recommendations regarding Creation of 5 Divisions in Temperate Sericulture Research Institute and Restructuring of Division of Agricultural Engineering as College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology & formation of six new divisions.
Among those who attended the meeting were Prof. C.D. Mayee, President South Asia Biotechnology Centre, New Delhi; Umang Narula, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Navin Kumar Choudhary, Principal Secretary Finance; Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary Planning; Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu; Sh. Baseer Ahmad Khan, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Showket Ahmad Beigh, Secretary Agriculture; and Prof. M.H. Wani, Registrar, SKUAST- Kashmir.

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