Advisor Khan inaugurates mela interacts with participants, experts promoting organic farming

Srinagar: SKUAST-Kashmir organized a grand event, the 7th Technology Exhibition cum Seed Mela 2022 under the theme ‘Organic and Natural Farming’. The mega event serves as a platform for the farming community, the farm women, youth, entrepreneurs, private players, NGOs, public representatives, policy makers, planners, students, technocrats, and all other relevant stakeholders.
The Exhibition cum Seed Melais beingorganized under the dynamic leadership of Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Kashmir Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai.
Farooq Khan, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, UT of Jammu Kashmir inaugurated the Mela and visited every stall where he was briefed about the items/innovation displayed during the Mela. The Chief Guest along with Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P. K. Pole and Director SKIMS Dr. Pervaiz Ahmad Koul showed their keen interest in the technologies developed by SKUAST-K especially their interest on Organic and Natural Farming.
The Mela was also attended by the HoDs of the Development Departments including DG Horticulture Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, Director Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal who showed their keen interest in taking the University Technologies further to the farming community.
Advisor Khan to Leuitenent Governor keenly interacted with the Scientists, farmers, entrepreneurs, student innovators. While appreciating the efforts and innovations of the University, Farooq Khan gave instant advises and instructions. Appreciating the scale and novelty displayed in the Kissan Mela, he advised the University authorities to have such KissanMelas in different regions of the UT regularly throughout the year.
Khan appreciated and congratulated Vice Chancellor and assured full support of the Government. He specifically appreciated the farmer entrepreneurs and the University student innovators. The first startup incubated by SKUAST-K was launched by the Chief Guest, Registration certificates were presented to two FPOs “Shiekh-ul-Aalam and Umeed Ki Kiran” promoted by KVK Budgam of SKUAST-Kashmir.
All the Officers, Directors, Deans, HoDs, KVK Heads along with their staff were present on the stalls to make the exhibition a grand success.
All the farmers including those from UT of Ladakh, the orchardist, the mushroom growers, the vegetables growers, the floriculturists, the livestock rearers, the poultry farmers, the aquaculturist, the sericulturists, the input dealers, various MNCs, the farm machinery representatives and members of Jammu and Kashmir Kissan Board were seen during the Mela. The Mela has witnessed participation of all Faculties, Colleges, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Research Institutes and other constituent units of the University in Kashmir and Ladakh region. The innovative farmers’ of the region including farm women promoted by SKUAST-Kashmir were an attraction of this event who showcased their contributions to inspire rural and urban youth.
An interaction session with the Chief Guest was conducted wherein both scientists and farmers attended. As many as 10 publications were released during the occasion. A special help desk was created for the farming community of the region during the Mela, to enable young persons’ to establish their own self employment ventures. The Technology Exhibition cum Seed Mela attracted financial institutions like NABARD and other financial institutions, who displayed their different self employment schemes and their officials interacted with the farming community and youth, in order to help to avail the benefits of various government schemes. The Directorate of Extension led by Prof. Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi coordinated various activities for successful conduct of the Technology Exhibition cum Seed Sale Mela.

KR Desk