Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 21: “Externally funded research projects worth Rs 8 crores are going on at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J) and All India Coordinated Research Programme to the tune of Rs 2.32 crores per annum are in place for development of technologies in agriculture, veterinary and allied sciences”.
This was stated by Vice Chancellor of the University Prof Pradeep K Sharma during a press conference here today.
He added that last year one foreign national was admitted in the undergraduate programme and this year two foreign national will be joining. In last 13 plus years 800 undergraduates, 500 masters and 100 PhD have pass out from the University. The students pursuing masters and PhD programme at the University have to undergo course research work while pursuing these programmes, he said.
He stated that the in human resource development, SKUAST-J offers professional courses in the disciplines of agricultural sciences, veterinary sciences and biotechnology at undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. MSc and doctoral programmes are course work and research based. The counseling for admission to undergraduate programmes was in process and there was heavy rush of students for admission”.
“In the first 14 years of the establishment of SKUAST-Jammu, 6 varieties of oilseed crops, 4 varieties of rice, 3 varieties of wheat, 1 variety of highbred maize, 1 variety of pulses and 1 variety of vegetable crop have been developed by the University scientists. These varieties are high yielding and will increase the productivity in agriculture”, he added.
VC stated that the University has developed technologies for non-bearing olive orchards and rejuvenation senile old mango orchards.
“The university has the super specialty Veterinary Referral Hospital for treating animals and around 5000 animals are annually treated at the hospital. The research on embryo transfer technique in sheep is being done by the University”, he added.
In the field of extension university at present has 6 KVKs and three more are likely to be established this year. The University provides agro-advisory services based on weather forecast to Agriculture Department Officials, press and electronic media and to farmers using SMS.
VC assured that the placement cell of the University shall be strengthened.
Among others present were Dr KS Risam, Director Extension, Dr Vinod Wali, Director Research and Dr BB Gupta, Registrar.
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