Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 31: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Jammu organized a joint meeting of University Scientists and Agriculture Department officers keeping in view deficient sowing of wheat in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts and the prevailing weather adversaries for ensuing rabi season in Jammu region.
The meeting was organized under the chairmanship of Dr K S Risam, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu, in presence of Inder Jeet, Director Agriculture Jammu, Dr R K Arora, Assoc Director Extension, Dr B C Sharma, Prof & Head, Division of Agronomy and others.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the importance of agro-advisory for the current rabi season in context of climate variations, especially under subtropical plains of Jammu region in general and irrigated low lying areas in particular. The main discussion was concentrated on strategic planning for sowing of wheat during the remaining part of rabi season.
Director Agriculture Inder Jeet discussed the crucial and effected areas under the current erratic weather conditions, including Suchetgarh and adjoining areas of Jammu district where Basmati-370 was the major crop for Kharif and its harvesting got delayed due to excessive rains during the month of November.
Dr B C Sharma placed the account of current weather parameters in comparison to the normal in Jammu sub-tropics. He further deliberated on different technical feasibilities for undertaking farming practices for the remaining rabi season.
K K Sharma , Agri Economist, informed about the loss of grains and quality of basmati straw due to excessive rains. He suggested to concentrate on alternate crops, rather than on wheat alone to sustain livelihood of rural households.
The meeting concluded with the recommendations as agro-advisory for the farmers of plains and low-lying areas of Jammu region in the current rabi season. Surface seeding was recommended for the fields where wheat crop has failed to germinate. Zero till sowing of wheat was recommended for the fields which are yet to be prepared for sowing of wheat.
The meeting was attended by Dr Amrish Vaid, Professor, Plant Pathology; Dr Tuhina Dey, Professor, PBG; Dr Mohinder Singh, Senior Scientist & I/c Agrometerology; Dr Subash Kashyap, Scientist PBG; Ravinder Thaplu, Dy Director; Farooq Ahmad Bhat, Chief Agriculture Officer, Jammu; Jahangir Shafi, Chief Agriculture Officer, Samba; Vijay Upadaya, Chief Agriculture Officer, Kathua; Sunil Gupta, Manager, Chakroi farm and Sanjay Verma, Farm Manager, Chinore farm.
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