Srinagar: 32ndExtension Council Meeting of SKUAST-Kashmir was conducted through hybrid mode under the chairmanship of Prof. J.P.Sharma,Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-J&K. Prof. R.R.Burman, Principal Scientist Division of Agricultural Extension, IARI New Delhi and Prof. T.S. Riar Additional Director Communication, PAU Ludhiana participated as expert members. Besides, Directors, Deans, HoD’s of SKAUST-Kashmir, Directors of line departments and progressive farmers attended the meeting. The purpose of the said meeting is to take stock of the progress in the dissemination of technologies developed by SKAUST-Kashmir for their ultimate adoption by the farmers. Besides reviewing the coordination with line departments, discussing new proposals in agriculture and allied sectors and receiving feedback from the Directors of Line departments and progressive farmers. News letter from KVK Budgam was released for during the inaugural session of the meeting.
Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Prof.J.P.Sharma joined the meeting virtually presented inaugural speech explained the extension in broader perspective and emphasized on collaborative research and extension activities for the welfare of the farming community. Stress was laid on specialty agriculture identifying different possible profitable crops and cultivate new crops other than the traditional ones, to increase the farmers income. He stressed upon the scientists that high remunerative crops like saffron, kalazeera, lavender and inter cropping of kalazeera with saffron be taken to areas other than niche areas besides we must be able to provide the ground to our farmers for taking up processing and value addition on priority to increase to help our farming community in marketing of their produce at National and international level.
Prof. Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi, Director Extension presented the welcome address and the extension activities undertaken during the year. He highlighted the progress made by the constituent units of SKUAST-Kashmir on various agenda items and fresh proposals put forth by them for the year 2021-22. He appreciated the role of KVKs, Research stations and Divisions and Units in formulating and disseminating the technologies to the end users, and congratulated them because three of the progressive farmers whose potential was recognized by Govt. of India and Prime Minister Called them on phone in Man-Ki-Baat and in Vice-Chancellor’s Conference. These farmers are working in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Pulwama, Srinagar and Ganderbal.
The expert member Prof. T.S. Riar suggested to increase the outreach to farmers by way of using facebook ,Youtube programmes, farmer to farmer extension, farmer led extension which will help in bringing behavioral changes for adopting high value crops.
Prof. R.R. Burman, suggested that Krish Dak model be adopted for effective transfer of technology to the remotest areas. He also suggested that KVK may include post masters as trainees which can be later utilized extension agents in far off places. He also suggested to take advantage of central sponsored programmes like vatika specially for processing and value addition.
The officers of line departments hailed the contribution of scientific fraternity in agriculture and allied sciences and research conducted on field oriented problems.Entrepreneurs and progressive farmers, in their feedback appreciated the skill development programmes conducted by various constituent units of the university. They also desired more such activities in future as these guarantee employment opportunities to the educated unemployed youth. Training programmes on propagation of quality planting material of High Density Apple and tulip bulbs may be taken up to reduce the imports.
Later in the programme action plan was presented by different faculties and research stations. Feedback from progressive farmers was also recorded.

KR Desk