Governor N.N. Vohra, Chancellor of the Sher-e-Kashmir Agricultural University of Science and Technology, Jammu (SKUAST-J), inaugurated the Annual Group Monitoring Workshop of Technology Intervention for Mountain Ecosystem-Livelihood Enhancement through Action Research & Networking (TIME-LEARN) Programme, organized at the University, here today.Earlier, Governor inaugurated the newly constructed Baba Jitto Auditorium of SKUAST-J which has a seating capacity of more than 900 persons. He took a round of the complex and viewed the well equipped facilities in the Auditorium. A documentary about the various activities and programmes being run by the SKUAST-J was screened in the Auditorium. Governor planted a sapling in the premises to mark the inauguration of the Auditorium. TIME LEARN Programme is a joint initiative of Science for Equity, Empowerment & Development (SEED), Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, Himalayan Environmental Studies & Conservation Organisation (HESCO), Dehradun and Wild Life Institute of India, Dehradun for addressing environmental conservation and sustainable development of mountainous ecosystem.Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Vice- Chancellor, SKUAST-J; Dr. Tej Pratap, Vice- Chancellor, APG Shimla University; Dr. Anil P. Joshi, Founder HESCO, Dehradun; Dr. Sunil Kumar Aggarwal, Scientist ‘E’ and Incharge, TIME-LEARN, DST-SEED; Dr. J.P. Sharma, Director Research, SKUAST-J expressed their views on the Workshop. Dr. R.K. Srivastava, Nodal Officer & PI, TIME-LEARN Project SKUAST-J, scientists, faculty and students were among those present on the occasion.
Highlighting the vital importance of technological intervention for enhancing production and productivity in agriculture and its allied sectors Governor observed that transfer of technology is of vital importance for bringing transformational change in the agricultural scenario in rural India. He lauded the efforts of TIME-LEARN Programme in making farmers prosper through various technological innovations in the North Western Himalayan States of Uttrakhand, J&K and Himachal Pradesh. Appreciating the past contributions of Dr. Anil P. Joshi, Founder HESCO, Governor noted that several approaches suggested by him are proving beneficial for improving the farmers standard of living. He also lauded the work done by Dr. Tej Pratap as Vice- Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir. Governor advised that various technological innovations which are of local relevance in the agriculture and its allied sectors should be produced on an adequate scale for distribution in the villages. He observed that a time frame needs to be adhered to for affecting revolutionary changes in the agriculture and its allied sectors as the challenges of climate change, growing population and food grain deficiency is an area which calls for focussed and time bound interventions. He emphasised the need for a cohesive approach being followed between various stakeholders in the agriculture and its allied sectors for meeting the arising challenges.
Governor noted that the good work being done by the scientists requires to be readily applicable in the farmers fields and thus help in bringing about the II Green Revolution.Governor congratulated Dr. Sharma, VC SKUAST-J for organizing this Workshop of SEED Division, DST, and wished fruitful deliberations to all the participants. He urged that a regular programme of monitoring, feedback and review must be followed for ensuring the success of all technological interventions.