Awantipora: Director ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI) Ludhiana Dr. Parvender Sheoran visited Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)/ETC Malangpora Pulwama on Tuesday.
The Director ICAR-ATARI was accompanied by the Director of Extension SKUAST-Kashmir Prof. Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi. They were welcomed by Dr Javed Ahmad Mugloo, Professor and Head KVK/ETC Malangpora.
During the visit to Krishi Vigyan Kendra Campus, the director paid a field visit and made a comprehensive tour of all the demonstration units including Horticulture, Field crops, Dairy unit, Medicinal plants, Fish pond, Poultry and Duck unit and was very highly satisfied with the teamwork and the efforts executed by KVK scientists in maintaining these units, KVK officials told Kashmir Reader.
Dr. Parvender Sheoran also initiated the potato harvesting at the potato block.
He also visited different laboratories including the soil testing lab, a food processing lab, and Honey bee testing laboratories and expressed his sense of satisfaction about the number of samples being analysed in these laboratories and the processing activities being carried out at FPTC Lab.
Later on, an interactive session was also held in the meeting hall of KVK where all the teaching, non-teaching and field staff was present and had a face-to-face interaction with the Director apprising him of the quality of the work being assigned and done in KVK.
While addressing the gathering, Director ATARI praised the efforts of KVK especially its head with regard to the quality of work being done at the grassroots level and provided his suggestions to make further improvements in farmer-oriented extension activities.
He also appreciated the KVK for making its name among the best KVKs in the country, which he attributed to meticulous efforts and much-needed hard work that has been done to achieve the same.
He further stressed upon uploading the day-to-day activities on the KVK portal and also stressed upon documentation of field activities to further improve the ranking, KVK head Dr Javed Ahmad Magloo told Kashmir Reader.
The Director ATARI was also apprised of various constraints which the KVK has been facing every now and then and he assured all his help and cooperation in this regard. He also announced that an orientation programme will be conducted for newly recruited staff to sensitise them about the latest trends and technologies in their respective fields.
Director Extension SKUAST-K Prof. Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi highlighted the role of KVK in the betterment of the farming community of District Pulwama. He also pointed out some major achievements which the KVK had achieved during the last few years.
KVK head Dr. Javed Ahmad Mugloo thanked Director ATARI for visiting KVK Malangpora and spending his valuable time with the staff and encouraging them to work with enthusiasm and zeal and to make a name for this KVK among the top-ranking KVKs of the country.
The programme ended with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Afsah Nehvi.

BILAL HABIB