Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: Governor, N.N Vohra, Chancellor of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J), emphasized the urgent need to rear quality breeds of cattle and goats for the State to become self reliant in the production of dairy and meat products.
He urged Sajad Gani Lone, Minister for Animal Husbandry, to get an Action Plan formulated to increase the production of meat, poultry, fish and dairy products in the State.
He was chairing the 13thCouncil meeting of SKUAST-J, here at the Raj Bhavan, today Ghulam Nabi Lone, Minister for Agriculture; Bali Bhagat, Minister for Social Welfare, Forests, Ecology and Environment; Sajad Gani Lone, Minister for Science & Technology and Animal Husbandry urged the VCs to optimally utilize all the existing resources at the disposal of the Farm Universities for speedy development of agriculture and its allied sectors.
The Governor advised the Farm Universities of the State to play a significant role in the propagation of high quality seeds and plant materials. He observed that all available resources and expertise should be optimally utilized for producing quality seeds of various crops and action taken to ensure their timely supply to the farmers. He advised fixing a timeframe for the establishment of crop and objective specific model villages in the State and stressed the expansion of micro irrigation facilities to increase the net irrigated area in the State.
While reviewing issues relating to the establishment of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), the Governor stressed early establishment of KVKs within fixed timelines and to ensure effective transfer of technology from labs to farms for the benefit of the farmers. He advised Commissioner, Agriculture Production Department to personally visit the proposed sites and expedite land acquisition proceedings by the respective Deputy Commissioners, to ensure against any further delay in the establishment of KVKs in the State.
The Governor advised the Vice-Chancellor to set up a mechanism for the qualitative assessment of research projects and stressed that the Farm Universities should give a boost to extension activities and organize a large number of Kissan Melas and other related activities through the year.
The Council also reviewed the progress achieved in the strengthening of the Dairy Farm established by the University at R.S. Pura in Jammu. It approved the bifurcation of Faculty of Agriculture and restructuring of School of Genomics and Molecular Biology and approved certain amendments in the Statutes of the University. The Council also approved co-option of Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice- Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and Prof. (Col.) A.K. Gahlot, Vice-Chancellor, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner, as specialist members of the Council.
Earlier, Dr. Pradeep K. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST, Jammu, presented a detailed report on the status of teaching, research and extension activities undertaken by the varsity. He dwelt on the achievements of the University in varied fields and the new varieties of seeds of different crops which had been developed. He also gave details of the various ongoing research projects and those in the pipeline.
Among those who attended the meeting were Dr. Tej Partap, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir; Dr. A.R. Trag, Vice Chancellor, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipore; B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary, Planning and Development; P.K. Tripathi, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, Commissioner, Agriculture Production; Rafi Ahmad Indrabi, Director Codes Finance Department and B.B. Gupta, Registrar, SKUAST-J.
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