SRINAGAR: SKUAST-Kashmir conducted 20th Scientific Advi-sory Committee (SAC) meeting of KVK- Leh on Saturday at HMAARI, Campus Stakna. The meeting was chaired by Dr Udham Singh Gau-tam, Dy. Director General (Exten-sion) ICAR. Dr. Parvender Sheoron, Director ATARI, Zone-I was the Guest of Honour on this occasion. The meeting was also attended by Director Extension, SKUAST-K Prof. (Dr.) Dil Muhammad Makhdoomi, Head KVK Pulwama, SKUAST-K, officers from the line departments of UT Ladakh and progressive farm-ers.
Dr. D. Namgyal Associate Direc-tor (R&E) HMAARI, Leh welcomed the guests. Dr. Feroz Din Sheikh, Professor and Head KVK Leh presented the Action Taken Report of 19th SAC, Annual Progress Report (2022-23) and Action Plan (2023-24) of KVK Leh. He gave a detailed presenta-tion on all the activities of last year including the Action Taken Report. In his presentation, he presented the important achievements of KVK-Leh and the thrust areas where the Kendra is focusing. In his overview, Prof. Dil Mo-hammad Makdhoomi, Director Extension SKUAST-K inform the gathering the salient activities related to dissipation and valida-tion of technology and formation of entrepreneurs by KVK Leh. He said that the University has con-ducted Ladakh Ist Agritech mela was organized at Leh at Kargil by the KVKs of the district.
The mela in Kargil was first of its kind to be organized after thirty four years. He stressed research institutes, KVKs, Line Departments and farmers to take full utilization of Solar energy for which Ladakh is known for. He also stressed on exploring the po-tential of livestock rearing in Leh and branding and packaging of value added products. Later, Director ATARI in his speech advised the KVKs to focus on Market or profit oriented exten-sion rather production oriented ex-tension. He also advised the KVKs to confine their activities as per the mandates of KVKs. He stressed on active participation of line depart-ments in inservice training pro-grammes where KVKs will work as resource centres and ask them to provide capsule or certified courses to the extension personnel. He assured of providing all infra-structure developmental help by providing vehicle to KVK Leh. He also directed the KVKs to work on drudgery reduction of farm females by farm mechanization programme.
Dr Udham Singh Gautham, Dy. Director General (Extension) ICAR in his address ask the KVK to con-finement their activities as per their mandate and transfer all the research related issues to research institutes. KVK will provide only backstopping and technical sup-port in terms of capacity building for the members of FPOs. Feed backs from line departments, SAC members were taken up during the meeting. All the members includ-ing the Chairman, praised the work done by KVK Leh and desired that all programmes related to Ladakh should be conducted in collabora-tion with line department. Dr. Kun-zang Lamo, SMS (Veg. Science) con-cluded the programme by proposing vote of thanks.