Governor N.N. Vohra, Chancellor of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Jammu (SKUAST-J) visited the University today to witness the Amla Exhibition, which is part of the “Amla Day” calebrations. He also inaugurated the new complexes of the new Examination Hall, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Seed Testing Laboratory.Highlighting the benefits of Amla fruit the Governor observed that it is not only a source of nutrients and rich medicinal value but its cultivation is highly remunerative for the farmers having marginal land holdings. Urging the farmers to adopt its cultivation in the arid areas and wastelands the Governor observed that such an initiative could contribute to the optimum utilization of waste and marginal lands, promotion of cottage industries and improvement of health of the rural population.
The Governor urged the Farm scientists in SKUAST and the Directorate of Horticulture to together take practical measures for enabling the farmers to utilize new technological approaches for cultivating amla crops and adding quality to its value added products. He observed that there are large opportunities for launching amla based products in the domestic and international markets and the Farm University needs to take all necessary steps to enable the farmers to exploit the opportunity of undertaking organic cultivation of crops on a meaningful scale.The Governor suggested formation of cooperatives for marketing of Amla products and advised the SKUAST scientists and the State Agriculture Department Officers to train women in amla fruit processing to be enable to produce its varied marketable products. He urged the Farm University to initiate pilot projects in the areas producing optimum Amla crops and stressed suitable mechanisms being established for proper grading of the fruit.The Governor gave away prizes to the winners of the Amla Fruit show and to the manufacturers of the best Amla products.Earlier, the Governor inspected the Sunken and Raised Bed Technology Farm at the University.Dr. Pradeep K. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor SKUAST-J, Dr K.S Risam, Director Extension and Mr. A.K Sharma, Director Horticulture addressed the gathering on the occasion.The Vote of Thanks was given by Dr. J.P Sharma, Director Research, SKUAST-J.