SRINAGAR: The AICRP Pulses team at DARS Rangreth, in collaboration with KVK Shopian and under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), organized a one-day Awareness and Input Distribution Programme on December 11, 2025, to promote advanced pulse cultivation techniques among tribal farmers in the region.
Sponsored by the Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, the event saw active participation of over forty tribal farmers, along with distinguished guests including Prof. Ajaz Ahmad Lone and Dr. Tauseef Ahmad from DARS Rangreth, as well as scientists from KVK Shopian.
The programme commenced with a warm welcome by Dr. Mir Shabir Ahmad, followed by an address from Dr. Zafar Afroz Badri, Head of KVK Shopian, emphasizing the importance of scientific interventions to enhance agricultural productivity in tribal areas.
Prof. Ajaz Ahmad Lone, Principal Investigator of the AICRP Pulses, briefed farmers on the programme’s objectives and introduced the latest technologies in pulse cultivation aimed at increasing yield and ensuring sustainability. Dr. Tauseef Ahmad also highlighted critical scientific crop management practices essential for successful pulse production.
To support the farmers’ field operations, essential agricultural inputs—including tarpaulins, tangroo, pulse seeds, Rhizobium culture, and other materials—were distributed during the event.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Shaiq Ahmad Ganai (SMS, PHT), who acknowledged the efforts of all stakeholders involved in empowering tribal farming communities through these interventions.