SRINAGAR: SKUAST-K held its 42nd Standing Evaluation Committee (SEC) meeting on Friday at Shalimar. The meeting was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganie.
The meeting witnessed participation from various line departments including Agriculture, Horticulture, Law Enforcement agencies, and progressive nursery growers.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganie emphasized the university’s commitment towards adopting an integrated pest, disease, and nutrient management strategy for orchards across the Kashmir Valley. He also highlighted the urgent need for a data-driven decision support system to enable real-time monitoring of pests and diseases.
In his welcome address, Prof. Haroon Rashid Naik, Director Research, stressed the importance of eco-friendly pest and disease management approaches as a sustainable and viable option in the present-day scenario.
Dr. Irfan Bisati, Professor, Directorate of Research, presented the Action Taken Report of previous meetings and outlined the future course of action. Officers from different line departments held detailed deliberations on resistance management strategies for major pests and diseases, focusing on integrated approaches and pesticide rotation.
Representatives from various divisions of SKUAST-K, including Plant Pathology, Entomology, Fruit Science, and Agricultural Economics, presented updates on different molecules currently under evaluation. The house also recommended the issuance of Plant Health guide for the year 2026-27. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks presented by Dr. Irfan Bisati, Professor, Directorate of Research.