SKUAST Jammu celebrates 21st Foundation Day

Advisor Khan for propagating cluster, cooperative farming to boost agriculture productivity

5 Dariya News

Jammu 20-Sep-2019

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST –Jammu) celebrated its 21st Foundation Day at its main campus at Chatha in which Advisor to Governor, Farooq Khan was the chief guest.While addressing the gathering, Advisor impressed upon the University scientists and scholars to strive hard for excellence in education, research and its outreach programmes. He said that we require “skilled agriculture science graduates and post graduates” who must learn by hands on experiences at the University. Khan said, “We cannot make agriculture a profitable enterprise because more than 95% farmers have less than 1 hectare landholding in J&K, unless we propagate and implement cluster/cooperative farming for enhancing the productivity and economics of farming”.Advisor said that such events further motivate scientific fraternity and students of the University to set higher goals of excellence for welfare of farming community of the state.Vice Chancellor, SKUAST Jammu, Dr. K.S. Risam highlighted the achievements attained by the university and said that the motive of the university is to ensure food and household security of farmers by increasing the productivity and profitability on ecological and economically sustainable basis. “SKUAST Jammu was carved out of the erstwhile SKUAST of Jammu & Kashmir State on 20th September, 1999 to cater to the needs of Jammu region for the development of region specific human resource, agricultural technology and the eventual transfer thereof”, he asserted.Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s (ICAR) National Professor at the Institute of Agricultural Economics & Policy Research, New Delhi, India Dr. Pratap Singh Birthal delivered an expert lecture on “Transaction in India’s agri-food policy challenges & prospects” highlighting the significant increase in the food production, thereby reduction in the rural poverty. He highlighted the diminishing effect of the agricultural growth to tardy shift of labour from agricultural to non -agriculture sectors to de-stress agriculture for increasing labour productivity.Vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Rajesh Katoch, Dean, Students’ Welfare, SKUAST-J while the proceedings were conducted by Dr. Ankur Rastogi.Officers of the University Dr. J.P. Sharma, Dr. T.A.S Ganai, Dr D P Abrol, Dr. MMS Zama, Dr. Deepak Kher, Dr. S.K. Gupta, Rajesh Talwar, Manzoor Hussain and Heads of the Divisions besides all the faculty members, non teaching staff, under-graduate, post-graduate and Ph.D. students joined the 21st Foundation Day celebrations of SKUAST-J were present during the Foundation Day celebrations.