Ganderbal, Aug 25: 18th Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Ganderbal was conducted in the Conference Hall of the KVK today.

The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of  Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof. (Dr.) Nazir Ahmad Ganaie, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion.

 Prof. (Dr.) Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi, Director Extension SKUAST-K, who was the Guest of Honour, co-chaired the meeting.

  At the outset, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof. (Dr.) Nazir Ahmad Ganaie, inaugurated the Apiary Unit at the Kendra. He also inaugurated Value Added Products produced by the KVK including dried plum (Aloo Bukhara), herbal tea, Plum jam & honey.

 Dr. Ishfaq Abidi, Programme Coordinator KVK Ganderbal presented a detailed power point presentation of progress report for the year 2021-22 and proposed action plan for the year 2022-23.

He revealed that the KVK has already identified various potential areas which can be channelized to uplift the farming community of the District.

He said that there is a huge potential for maize, fodder oats, organic potato, buckwheat and pulses all across the District.

He said that the KVK has already identified challenges in the formation of FPOs and Team KVK is working to overcome such challenges. He added that the KVK team intends to work in a cohesive manner with the Development Departments to change the Horticulture/Agriculture landscape of the District.

He said that KVK will provide a complete technological backup support and carve innovative solutions to revive the Niche crops of the District.

Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, stressed on the need of disseminating the information about newly released SKUAST-K varieties to the farming community by KVK in association with line departments.

He described the need of identifying high market value crops for increasing the income of farmers. Prof. Ganaie emphasized on formation of FPOs for branding and tagging of crops like apple, walnut, fish and milk. He said that formation of FPOs across the District will empower the farming community by leveraging their strengths to enhance crop productivity.

He focussed on formation of FPOs for grapes which is the signature crop of the District. He also encouraged the KVK scientists to popularize the buckwheat cultivation across the District, owing to its importance as a functional food and signified the need of proper food packaging, marketing and value addition for higher benefits among farmers.

Prof. (Dr.) Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi, Director Extension SKUAST-K, appreciated the efforts of KVK Ganderbal in taking the technology from lab to the farmer’s field. He encouraged the farmers to make commodity based FPOs for higher returns. He ensured full cooperation to line departments for welfare of the farming community. He briefed that a low cost housing model has already been provided to the Sheep Husbandry Department for the control of foot rot in animals, which needs to be replicated in all the districts.

Dr. Makhdoomi described the need for more awareness camps for the control of lumpy skin disease in the District, and said that the vaccination of animals may be done at the FVSc, Shuhama.

Zaitoona Ji, Sarpanch Choont Waliwar thanked the Directorate of Extension & the KVK Ganderbal for providing various inputs like Maize seed, chicks and high yielding vegetable seed to the farmers of the area. She expressed gratitude to Director Extension and KVK Ganderbal for reaching out to the far-flung area of Chunt Waliwar and ensured full cooperation to the KVK for future programmes.

Several Progressive farmers  appreciated the efforts of KVK in providing trainings and inputs to them by which they have doubled their income.

The farmers and line departments pledged to work in unison to carry forward the technological developments undertaken by the University to fulfil the motive of making Agriculture and allied sectors remunerative.

The meeting was attended by Dean (FVSc and AH), Dean (FoFy), Chief Agriculture Officer, Chief Horticulture Officer, District Sheep Husbandry Officer, Deputy Registrar Cooperatives, Zonal Soil Conservation Officer and Assistant Director Fisheries. Scientists from DARS, Budgam, Faculty of Fisheries and Progressive Farmers were also present in the Meeting.