Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: Chairing the 30th University Council meeting of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), held at the Raj Bhavan here, 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 Research; Annual Report 2014-15; Objective Sericulture; Envisioning Urbanization Process, Issues, Extent, Drivers & Implications: A case of Mountainous State of Jammu & Kashmir.
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.
To ensure against excessive usage of pesticides on fruit plants, the Council advised the VCs to develop and widely disseminate a pragmatic pesticide spraying schedule which would contain and control the levels of residual pesticides in farm produce. In this context, the Governor stressed the need for expanding the laboratory network in the State for pesticides and fungicides being tested before sale in any part of the State.
Vice Chancellor Dr. Nazeer Ahmed made a detailed presentation on the various initiatives which had been undertaken by the University since the last Council meeting.
The VC informed that resource mapping of different districts of Kashmir and Ladakh region has been completed wherein detailed survey/sampling and analysis of soil samples collected from all 12 districts of Kashmir using GPS/GIS technology have been completed and geo referenced soil fertility maps of all districts of Kashmir Valley including cold arid regions of Ladakh have been developed.
The digital maps are available on SKUAST-K website www.skuastkashmir.ac.in to be used by farmers and other stakeholders. He informed that 1400 soil health cards were issued in the year 2015 through KVKs to farmers in the Valley and this year the University in partnership with the State Agriculture Department will be issuing 4,500 of these cards.
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.
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