Srinagar, Nov 11: The SK University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir organized its 44th meeting of Research Council under the Chairmanship of Prof. Anwar Alam, Vice-Chancellor at its main campus at Shalimar here.
 Director Research, Deans of the University, Directors of Line Departments and Heads of the Divisions, scientists of the University attended the meeting among others. 
 Prof. Anwar Alam, Vice-Chancellor (Chairman of the Research Council Meeting) in his inaugural address emphasized the need to achieve self-sufficiency in food production as “we are facing more than 30 per cent deficit in food grains.”
 He said that front-line demonstration programmes carried out in major crops by the University have demonstrated considerable yield gain in comparison to those achieved by the farmers and therefore, line departments and University scientists shall have to work in symbiotic mode to push the threshold of productivity by about 50%.
 Prof. Alam informed that there is acute shortage of pulses and oilseeds and research strategies are required to strengthen productivity through nutrient management, plant protection measures and other agronomic techniques to step up yield per unit area in these crops.
 He said that success in food production and stability in these crops will enable progress in other fields like nutritive feed for livestock to push up this sector as well.
 He exhorted upon the scientists to take the new seed materials developed in pulses particularly rajmash, moong, lentil, French bean to Minikit Testing Programmes and multiplication chain. “In the animal husbandry sector, University should make available more number of dual-purpose sheep and cattle of improved pedigree and performance to give push to meat and dairy sector in the region.”
 He said although per capita milk production in the state is respectable, there is no room for complacency. “Issues of nutrient rich feed for livestock particularly during winter shall have to be addressed besides measures to improve animal shelter, to avoid morbidity and mortality of livestock.”
 He urged the scientists of Faculty of Fisheries to strengthen the research in fish farming, intensify stocking system and produce adequate quantities of fish seed to augment fisheries production sector in the region.
 Director Research, Prof. A. R. Trag (Member Secretary of the Research Council Meeting) said that university has developed new varieties and hybrids of field, vegetable and fruit crops that mainly include two varieties in rice, one in maize, one in field pea and one in lentil.
 “Besides, two early seasoned apple hybrids and one chili hybrid have also been identified for release,” he said.
 He informed that these varieties and hybrids have better yield potential and can withstand biotic and aboitic stresses under farmers’ field conditions.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 IST