SRINAGAR: Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Kashmir, Prof. N. A. Ganaie, visited the Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops (MRCFC)- Khudwani on 6th August 2022 to review the progress of on-going research programmes at the center. Prof. N.R. Sofi, Associate Director Research (MRCFC) briefed the Vice Chancellor about the progress and distinguished achievements of the center. During the field visit, the Vice Chancellor was impressed by the incredible local germplasm conservation programme and its commercial utilization.
He was highly impressed with the lot of genetic variability created at the centre through indigenous breeding programme. He laid special emphasis on high value rice varieties like Mushk Budji,Kamad,red rice as well as recently released fine grain varieties like Shalimar Sugandh and much improved advanced breeding lines to improve socio-economic development and livelihood security.He advised the scientists to coordinate with KVKs and development departments for their large-scale popularization.
Vice Chancellor greatly admired the research projects being carried out in collaboration with national & international institutes and other schemes across multiple disciplines including Plant Breeding,Plant Pathology, Entomology, Agronomy & Soil Sciences. He impressed upon the scientists to popularize resource conserving technologies such as, System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) for saving water, seed and labour coupled with realizing higher yields. He appreciated the research projects being conducted on natural farming, botanical insecticides & fungicides, micronutrient biofortification etc. He directed the scientists to come up with effective and practicable solutions to combat the negative effects of climate change. Finally, the Vice Chancellor reminded the scientists of tremendous contribution of the center in the food security & socio-economic upliftment of the farmers of the J &K and encouraged them to carry forward the great legacy of the journey of rice that started from the centre.

KR Desk