Srinagar: Five-day hands-on training, ‘Wool Spinning on Innovative Charkha for Realizing Better Returns’ for women artisans of Gurez commenced at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shuhama campus.
The training is organised by the SKUAST-K’s Division of Livestock Products Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences in collaboration with the Division of VAHE, School of AE & HBM, KVK Gurez and NRLM Tulial under the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP)’s ‘Promotion of Wool and Pelt for Effective Processing and Marketing’ project. The program aims to develop skills among the women artisans of Gurez Valley for wool processing.
The inaugural function was attended by Prof Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi, Director Extension SKUAST-Kashmir; Dr MT Banday, Dean FVSc & AH, Dr Asif Hassan Sofi, Head Division of LPT, Dr Nazir, SMS KVK Gurez and Heads of the Divisions. Dr Asif at the inaugural function, informed that few interaction programs were conducted at Gurez Valley, where it was observed that for the popularization of Gurezi Pattoo and other woolen items, few interventions are required. These include handholding in the form of processing tools like charkha and looms, upgrading the skills through a capacity building program as well as promotion and marketing of the products. The present program is a first step in that direction.
Dr Asif further informed that spinning and weaving clusters shall be developed during this month at PTL Village of Gurez on a community basis where the spinning and weaving tools shall be installed to be used by the artisans. A total of 13 women participants of the Purana Tulial Village of Gurez Valley are participating in the training. Dr Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi in his address informed that skill development programs have become one of the important mandates of SKUAST-Kashmir besides basic mandates of teaching, research and extension. He advised the participants to develop skills and disseminate the same to other artisans of the village.

KR Desk