Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai on Saturday chaired the Annual Scientific Advisory Committee meeting at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kupwara, bringing together senior agricultural scientists, officials and farmers to review the centre’s outreach work and chart strategies for the year ahead. The meeting formed part of the university’s regular exercise to assess extension activities and align them with the evolving needs of the farming community in north Kashmir.
The gathering was attended by Dr. Parvender Sheoran, director of ICAR-ATARI Zone-I, Dr. Raihana Habib Kanth, director of Extension at SKUAST-K, along with district-level officers from allied departments, scientists and more than 100 progressive farmers from across Kupwara district. The scale of farmer participation reflected the emphasis placed on grassroots feedback in shaping the centre’s future programming, with growers given a direct opportunity to raise concerns and share field-level experiences.
Discussions during the meeting centred on strengthening agricultural extension services, promoting climate-resilient farming practices, improving crop productivity and expanding the adoption of modern technologies among farmers in the district. Participants also reviewed the overall progress made by KVK Kupwara over the past year and deliberated on strategies to address ongoing challenges faced by the local farming community, ranging from climate variability to access to modern inputs.
As part of the visit, the dignitaries inspected demonstration units at the centre, including protected cultivation structures, horticulture plots and agroforestry installations, while interacting directly with scientists and progressive farmers working on these initiatives. The delegation appreciated the efforts made by KVK Kupwara in disseminating scientific knowledge and promoting innovative farming practices aimed at improving rural livelihoods across the district.
The programme concluded with an interactive session in which farmers shared their own experiences and suggestions for improving extension services, with experts assuring continued technical support for the development of the agriculture and allied sectors in Kupwara. The meeting reinforced SKUAST-K’s ongoing role in bridging scientific research with practical, field-level application for the benefit of Kashmir’s farming community.
