Srinagar: The 63rdResearch Council Meeting (Kharif) to discuss progress made on various research projects and approve new proposals for Kharif-2022 was held under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai.
The meeting was attended by Directors, Deans of different faculties and Heads of Divisions and Research Stations from the University. Dr. O.P. Sharma, former PCCF, J&K and Dr. D.P. Sharma, prominent fruit scientist from Y.S. Parmar University attended as Expert members. The meeting was also attended by prominent entrepreneurs Dr. Javed Dar and Er. Adnan Ali along with other representatives of Development Departments etc.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai during his introductory remarks appreciated the efforts of scientists of different faculties and Research stations for their work in the field of research and filing of patents and publication of high impact research papers. He complimented the scientists for getting judicious funds for high-end research from national and international agencies. Prof. Ganai desired that the research priorities should be devised in such a manner so that the technology developed can help in improving the socio-economic condition of the farmerswhich will augment the share of agriculture and allied sectors in total GDP of U.T. He stressed to focus on specialty agriculture for high value low volume crops particularly saffron, kalazeera, blue berry, lavender, spices etc. and advised the scientists to take up organic practices for management of various apple diseases in order to reduce indiscriminate use of chemical insecticides/ pesticides. He advised to undertake further research on minimizing post-harvest losses, use of Artificial-Intelligence in precision agriculture/horticulture, processing and value addition of fruits, vegetables, dairy, fisheries, medicinal plants and development of functional/healthy foods. He also laid emphasis on the need of re-orienting research activities in order to boost the economy to make J&K model bio-economy hub in the country.
Prof. SarfarazA.Wani, Director Research welcomed the participants to the meeting and informed that the University during last 05 months submitted 81 projects out of which 20 projects have been sanctioned recently with financial allocation of 10.0crores. The University has filed 27 patents and signed 06MoUs with National and International Institutes for extending outreach of R&D activities of the University. It was informed that the university produced breeder seeds of Paddy, Maize, Pulses, Wheat and Fodder oats as per the indent of Department of Agriculture and other relevant stakeholders. Progress on research done during Kharif-2021 was presented by the concerned heads of stations, besides approval for new research proposals to be taken up during Kharif-2022.
Representatives of Development Departments and progressive farmers/Entrepreneurs raised important issues that needintervention from the University. During the meeting new research projects were approved for Kharif season-2022 based on the inputs of different faculties/stations and feedback from line departments. Threepublications related to “crop varieties-2021, DUS-testing and management of Fish diseases” were released.