JK News Today

Jammu, December 28: Three days Zonal Workshop of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of Zone-1 began today here at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Jammu (SKUAST-J).

Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, Minister for Agriculture, J&K inaugurated the workshop at the Baba Jitto Auditorium of SKUAST-J. KVKs from Zone- I under the administrative control of ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Ludhiana from the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand are participating in the workshop to present their action plans and progress reports.

Speaking on the inaugural ceremony of the programme, Hanjura stated that KVKs are the hubs of agricultural knowledge for the farmers and are helpful to transfer the agricultural technologies from lab to land. He recalled the aim for doubling the farmers’ income by 2022 and suggested KVKs to work hard to achieve it. He appreciated the efforts of Director, ATARI for strengthening the KVKs of Zone I and also for organizing the Zonal level workshop at SKUAST-Jammu. He stressed on Integrated Farming System (IFS) and organic farming to enhance the income of the farmers. He also narrated the role of marketing for the benefits of the farmers. He also inaugurated the buildings of Directorate of Extension, SAMETI and Technology Park of the University.

Deputy Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, AK Singh, Guest of Honour, briefed that KVKs are the nerves of the universities and are the front runners in assisting the farmers to enhance their income and employment. He stressed upon the popularization of scientific agriculture and appreciated the role of KVKs in enhancing the farm income. He also highlighted the role of KVKs in soil testing which is beneficial to increase the production of the farmers.

Rajbir Singh, Director ATARI, gave an overview of the activities of the ICAR-ATARI and expressed the objectives of conducting the workshop. He said that the KVKs are playing the pivotal role in dissemination of the agricultural knowledge to the farmers.

PK Sharma, VC of SKUAST-J stressed on the development of the commodity villages and highlighted the role of agricultural marketing for the rural development. He suggested the KVKs scientists to formulate the training programmes according to the feedback of the farmers.

R.K. Arora, Associate Director Extension & Incharge KVKs of SKUAST-J presented the welcome address and work done of SKUAST-Jammu.  Arvind Kumar, Principal Scientist, ICAR-ATARI presented the vote of thanks.

The workshop will include different technical sessions in which renowned scientists presented their lead papers on various agricultural and allied sectors issues. The major thrust of the event was to increase the income and employment among the farmers by the introduction of new agricultural technologies. The workshop will be the torchbearer for the farmers who want to enhance their crops yields by adopting scientific agriculture.