2nd meeting of State Level Coordination Committee between State Agriculture Universities and State Government for Research and Extension was held at SKUAST, here today.Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir chaired the meeting while as Vice Chancellor, SKUAST, Kashmir, Dr TejPartap, Commissioner Secretary Agriculture Production Department, Dr AsgarSamoon, Director Research, Dr Shafiq A Wani, Director Agriculture Kashmir, Mr MushtaqMateen, senior officers of Fisheries, Animal and Sheep Husbandry departments attended the meeting.
At the outset, the Director Research presented Action Taken Report by SKUAST, Kashmir in the field of Research and Extension in the State.The meeting discussed the diseases which erupt due to temperature fluctuation and sudden climatic change in plants. Besides issues like supply and use of spurious chemicals and fertilizers to farmers and measures to curb the menace also came under discussion. The experts deliberated on certain measures to boost the production and evolve innovative techniques.
Addressing the meeting, the Minister asked the officers to plug the gaps between university and extension department so that close liaison and coordination is assured to boost agriculture and horticulture sectors besides other allied sectors. He said agriculture is the only area which has potential to involve people and improve their socio-economic conditions.
Asserting that scientists have a great role to play in upgrading the quality of seeds and providing proper guidance and awareness to farmers, Mr Mir said that this section of the society deserves appreciation and encouragement. He asked the experts to ensure quality pesticides and fertilizers to farmers besides providing counseling and other technical knowhow to bring improvement in the agricultural and horticultural crops. He also asked the concerned officers to keep contingency plan ready to control rust and other diseases on wheat crop.On the occasion, the Minister released new varieties of Shalimar maize, rice, wheat, oats, pulses, moong developed by SKUAST Kashmir and five varieties developed by SKUAST Jammu. Mr Mir hoped that the seeds released would prove disease resilient and of high quality and help in boosting the production. He appealed farmers to make use of the seed for multiplying their harvest.
Lauding the efforts of Vice Chancellor SKUAST Kashmir and Commissioner Secretary Agriculture for making hard efforts in boosting Agriculture, Mr Mir said that University is playing a proactive role in extending necessary facilities to farmers in respect of research and extension besides state Government is leaving no stone unturned in supporting the Universities in doing their professional duties in the field.
Commissioner Secretary, Dr.Asgar Samoon spoke at length about the activities of SKUAST and the steps being taken by the Government to boost agriculture, horticulture, animal and sheep husbandry and fisheries sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. He said these sectors are key to the transformation of socio-economic profile of farmers and boosting the economy of the State.