Says focus on technological support and innovative solutions to uplift local farming communities; Annual Plans reviewed and formulated for 2024-25
AWANTIPORA: The 27th Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Malangpora Pulwama and the 12th SAC meeting of KVK Shopian were jointly conducted in the auditorium of KVK-ETC Malangpora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday.
The joint meeting was presided over by the Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-Kashmir, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai. It was attended by Prof. Dil Mohammad Makdoomi, Director Extension SKUAST-K, Prof. T.H. Masoodi, Registrar SKUAST-K, Director Finance Dr. Manzoor Ahmad, Dean FoA Wadura Prof. Rihana Habib Kant, other officers of SKUAST Kashmir, heads of different KVKs, district officers of line departments, scientists of KVKs, and progressive farmers and entrepreneurs of the twin districts, officials told Kashmir Reader.
The programme began with a welcome address by Prof. Afsah Nehvi. Prof. Javaid Ahmad Mugloo, Head of KVK Pulwama, and Dr. Zaffar Afroz Badri, Head of KVK Shopian, presented detailed progress reports for 2023-24 and proposed action plans for 2024-25. They highlighted the potential areas in their respective districts that are being leveraged to uplift the local farming communities. They assured attendees that the KVKs would provide comprehensive technological support and innovative solutions to revive niche crops in the districts.
An interaction and feedback session followed, where district officers from line departments discussed the challenges they faced. Progressive farmers also provided feedback, expressing a desire to work scientifically under the guidance of KVK teams.
While briefing the participants, VC SKUAST-K Prof Ganai impressed on both the university and development departments to make a roadmap set the targets and work on it in a coordinated manner for the betterment of the farming community. He emphasised that the farmers are the priority of the university and scientists are working effortlessly to ameliorate the socio-economic condition of the farmers.
The VC advised the officers to breed more KVKs in the form of progressive and innovative champion farmers at the block level to motivate more rural youth towards the agriculture profession.
Prof. Dil Mohammad Makdoomi, Director Extension SKUAST-K, praised the efforts of both KVKs and focused on the University’s initiatives aimed at transforming agriculture and allied sectors in the Union Territory. He expressed gratitude to all officers for their presence and pledged continued collaboration to advance technological developments in agriculture.
On the occasion, publications from KVK Pulwama, including an annual magazine “Watth Hawuk” and two booklets on “Processing and Preservation of Vegetables and Fruits” and “Soil Sampling Guidelines,” were released during the event.
At the outset, Prof. Ganai inaugurated a custom hiring centre dedicated to the district’s farmers and toured the demonstration units at KVK Pulwama, expressing satisfaction with their maintenance.
Speaking to Kashmir Reader, the VC SKUAST-K said the agriculture university has KVKs in every district of Kashmir. “Today the annual scientific advisory committee meeting was held at KVK Malangpora in Pulwama district,” he said, adding that officers from SKUAST-Kashmir, the Development Department and farmers participated in the meeting.”
He said they reviewed last year’s performance in the meeting to see how they were able to solve various issues. “We also formulated next year’s plan in the meeting in coordination with the development department and concerned farmers,” he said, adding that they have a special focus on KVK Malangpora because Pulwama has a unique significance for agriculture, animal husbandry and saffron cultivation.
Prof Ganaie appreciated KVK as an emerging rural knowledge hub imparting training to rural youth under HAPD and other programmes.
The VC SKUAST-K revealed that they also reviewed the work of KVK Shopian and finalised their annual plan for next year.