Srinagar, Aug 8: In the face of looming threat of paddy blast, the SK University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Kashmir has constituted a joint diagnostic team to have an on-spot inspection of the affected areas.
 The team will provide on spot instructions to the farmers and suggest measures to combat the disease. The team will also launch awareness programs in every district besides distributing literature among the farmers on this disease.
 The team will work in collaboration with KVKs, the varsity in a statement today said.
 The team will visit each district in the Valley from August 9 starting from district Bandipora, Kupwara Kulgam and Islamabad (Anantnag).
 The team comprises officers of the Department of Agriculture and Scientists of SKUAST-K.
 It said in view of the reports of paddy blast in some areas of the Kashmir Valley, a joint meeting of officers from Department of Agriculture and scientists and HODs of SKUAST-K was held today under the chairperson of Dr. Afifa S. Kamili, Director Extension Education.
 The meeting was held to devise measures to manage the disease.
 The members of the team are M. S. Kattoo, Joint Director Agriculture,  M. A. Parray, SMS and Javeed Iqbal, SMS from Department of Agriculture and Dr. G. M. Mir, Prof. Entomology, Dr. F. A. Aga, Senior Scientist, Agronomy, Dr. Z. A. Dar Junior Scientist, PBG and Dr. Tariq Ahmad Shah, Junior Scientist, Plant Pathology from SKUAST besides concerned Programme Coordinators of Krishi Vigyan Kendras of the University.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 8 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 8 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 9 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST