Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 30: 4th J&K Agricultural Science Congress concluded today at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology (SKUAST) Jammu.
The Congress was organized in collaboration with J&K State Council for Science & Technology and Department of Science & Technology, Govt of India, New Delhi. The main theme of the Congress was “Technological Innovations, Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Rainfed Agriculture for Food and Livelihood Security”.
More than 350 delegates from across the country participated in the three day deliberations. 70 oral presentations were made and more than 150 posters were presented during the Congress. Dr Vivek M Arya, Dr Hemant Dadich, Dr Prem Kumar, Dr Kamlesh Bali, Arti Heer, FA Lone, Ghazala Khan and Ifat Ganai got best poster presentation awards in their respective fields.
Kavinder Gupta, Speaker, J&K Legislative Assembly, was the chief guest in the valedictory function of the Congress that was divided into seven sub-themes focusing on technical innovations and emerging challenges in plant and animal sciences, sustainable use of land and water resources, farm diversification, upcoming abiotic and biotic problems and strategies to overcome them, socio-economics dynamics of rainfed farming and climate resilient agriculture.
The Speaker assured full support to the varsity from the present Government.
Dr J P Sharma, Director Research, SKUAST-Jammu and convener of the Congress presented the significant recommendations formulated during the congress that include assessment of impact of vulnerabilities of various production systems in J&K, promotion of conservation and organic agriculture for rainfed areas, conservation tillage, promoting the use of aqua ferti-seed drills for maintaining proper plant population in water deficit areas, revival of village ponds for ground water recharge and providing supplemental irrigation during water stress in the rainfed areas, ex-situ water conservation through check-ponds and low cost farm reservoirs through participatory approach and Government support, in situ water conservation through conservation tillage, mulching, mechanical interventions, ecoregion based development and ecosystem services for livelihood security.
Dr Pradeep K Sharma, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu, informed that there is huge yield gap in rainfed and irrigated farming and potential still exists that can be filled by implementing these recommendations. These recommendations shall be communicated to development departments for formulation of sound policies for promoting agriculture and allied sectors in dryland areas for ensuring livelihood security of farmers of these areas, he added.
The vote of thanks was presented by the organizing secretary, Dr V K Razdan.
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