Governor N.N Vohra, Chancellor of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J), chaired the 15th Council meeting of SKUAST-J, here at the Raj Bhavan. Chief Minister Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, Pro Chancellor of the University and Mr. Ghulam Nabi Lone, Minister for Agricultural Production, participated in the discussions.The Chancellor, while reviewing the ongoing infrastructure development projects, regretted the continuing delay and advised the Vice Chancellor to ensure that the University Auditorium and the Hostel for International Students were completed by 31st March 2017 under all circumstances.The Chancellor appreciated the VC’s efforts to strengthen the Counselling and Placement Cell in the University and advised him to take all required steps for improving the placement prospects of pass-outs in the University.The Pro-Chancellor advised the VC to identify fruits, particularly mango, of which high density cultivation could be introduced in Jammu region.The Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor advised the VC to conduct regular training programmes, especially in far flung areas of the Jammu region, for upgrading post harvest skills of farmers, to improve their economic status.
Earlier, Dr. Pradeep K. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST, Jammu, presented a detailed report on the status of teaching, research and extension activities undertaken by the varsity. He informed the Council that the intake capacity of the students of BSc. (Ag.) Hons. programme has been increased from 60 to 120 seats and for the 2016-17 session, the enrolment of students against available seats under various UG programmes has been 100% and the enrollment in MBA (Agriculture Business Management) has increased to 80%.The VC informed that, for boosting the area specific specialized farming, the KVKs are implementing specialized farming activities; specialized commodity villages for Rice have been established at village Rajpura Szada in Jammu district and in Sultanpur and Haripur Saini villages in Kathua; four specialized commodity villages have been set up in district Reasi, including organic vegetable production in village Talwara, marigold production in village Kangle, Integrated Farming System (IFS) Model in village Sirah, Poultry production village in Tanda, specialized village for garlic production in village Malothi of Doda, specialized village for vegetable production in Bhagwal and Bangle of Sunderbani, Rajouri, and specialized village for maize production in village Digwar of Poonch. Besides, the University is engaged in boosting the area specific specialized Integrated Farming System (IFS) models based on diagnostic surveys.
The tribal area of Badodi village comprising 100 farmers has been selected for adoption of IFS model developed by SKUAST-J.The VC further informed that the University, through its KVKs, is conducting regular training programmes in far flung areas of the State for upgrading post-harvest skills of people in the rural and backward areas to improve their economic status; it has launched Beej Vahan in June, 2016 to make available the best quality seeds to farmers at their door steps; signed MOUs with 22 universities/ICAR institutes at national and international level in pursuit of academic excellence, students exchange and sharing information pertaining to research & extension activities.In furtherance of the Pro-Chancellor advice, village Swanjna has been adopted by the University under RAWE programme wherein final year BSc. (Ag.) Hons. students are attached with the farmers of the village for gaining on-farm practical experience; a large scale unit for promotion of dairy, poultry and fish farming has been started involving public sector agencies like NABARD, J&K Bank, SBI, PNB, New India Assurance Co. Ltd and United India Insurance Ltd. for making the farmers aware of bankable models.
VC informed that the University is effectively utilizing all its available resources for generation/dissemination of technologies, and presently, externally funded research projects valuing Rs. 40 crore are in operation in the University for the speedy development of agriculture and its allied sectors.VC informed that the University has adopted new guidelines of ICAR and VCI for BSc. (Agric.) Hons. and BVSc. & AH from the academic session 2016-17 and KVK Samba will function from the Advanced Centre for Rainfed Agriculture, Dhiansar till such time as the land at Mananu village becomes available.Among those who attended the meeting were Mr. B.B. Vyas, Financial Commissioner Planning; Mr. P.K. Tripathi, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Mr. R.K Goyal, Principal Secretary Agricultural Production Department (Incharge); Prof. Nazeer Ahmed, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir; Dr. Ishaq Wani, Director (Budget) and Mr. Daleep Kachroo, Registrar, SKUAST-J.