SRINAGAR: The 15th Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kupwara (SKUAST-Kashmir) was held today in the meeting Hall of District Development Commissioner Office Kupwara under the chairmanship of Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir Prof. J.P Sharma.
The meeting was, convened by Director Extension, SKUAST-K, Prof. Dil Mohammad Makdoomi, Director Research SKUAST-K, Shalimar Prof. Sarfaraz Ahmad Wani, Associate Director Extension (KVKs) Dr. Amal Saxena, Associate Directorate Extension (I & P) Prof. Sheikh Muzaffar Ahmad, Associate Director Research Prof. Arshad Ahmad Mughal, Prof. Zahoor Ahmad Dar (Prof.GPB) DARS Rangreth, Dr. Aijaz Ahmad Assoc. Prof. GPB DARS Rangreth , Dr. Irfan Bisati SES ( Hort.) Directorate of Extension , Dr. Latief Ahmad Assistant Professor Agronomy (DARS) Budgam and scientific and other staff from KVK Kupwara besides progressive farmers of the distric representatives from the line department (Agriculture, Animal husbandry, Sheep Husbandry Horticulture, Sericulture, NABARD and J&K Bank) also attended the meeting in virtual mode. The meeting started with the welcome by Programme coordinator and SMS Agronomy and feedback from progressive farmers of the district namely Manzoor Ahmad Khan (Bee Keeping farmer), Mohd Jamal (Organic vegetable grower), Abdul Bari ( tractor operator). Later Dr. Sajad Mohi ud din Head KVK presented the Action taken report/Annual progress report /Progress report for the year 2020-21 and highlighted the achievements of the KVK in the field of Agriculture/ Horticulture/Animal sc and other allied sectors.
Prof. J. P Sharma Hon’ble Vice Chancellor SKUAST-J&K attended the meetin virtually and in his address he congratulated the KVK for their contribution in the welfare of the farming community of the district. The Chairman also congratulated the farmers who have adopted the technologies provided by SKUAST-K to them from time to time and desired that such progressive farmers need to horizontally transfer the technologies so that it can reach to every farmer of the district. HVC stressed for ensuing trainees come up with enterprises. He said that the present scenario of farming is not production driven rather it is income driven and the average land holding of Kashmir is less than our National average. So we have to concentrate on area specific, low volume and high value crops to increase farm income. The chairman also directed to give more thrust on packaging, value addition, branding and marketing. He directed Director Extension to develop contacts with National agencies for the development of agriculture and allied sectors like NABARD etc in order to develop FPOs in different crops and aspects.
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor concluded with the words that this meeting is the best platform for all the stake holders like Development Departments of Agriculture/ Horticulture and allied sectors and farmers to put their problems and constraints in the development of district and view points to overcome them.
The District Development Commissioner Kupwara Mr. Imam ud Din expressed his content with the contribution of KVK Kupwara as is evident from the success stories of the district at National Level. He promised all cooperation from the district development office and requested all the departments to work in coordinated manner for achieving higher levels of success.
Prof. Dil Mohammad Makdoomi Director Extension SKUAST-Kashmir during the meeting highlighted the importance of KVKs and said that all programmes carried out by KVKs are need based and expressed that it was our endeavour to see that each farmer is benefited and assisted in diagnostics and transfer of technologies during the awareness drives undertaken by our KVKs which are spread in almost every district of the Valley.
He appreciated the role of university in general and KVKs in particular in benefiting the progressive farmers. He expressed satisfaction over progressive farmers for setting up their income generating units after receiving trainings from the University/KVK. He expressed his content over the outcome of the trainings provided from time to time to the unemployed youth and farmers and farm women which has led to the development of entrepreneurs and turned the rural youth from job seekers to job providers. He emphasized on the horizontal expansion of the technologies provided to the farmers for the overall development of the district.
Director Research Prof. Sarfaraz Ahmad Wani assured full support and cooperation to the farmers in providing quality seed material.

KR Desk