Jammu, Mar 21: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today emphasized the need for structuring various courses in different disciplines to reorient them towards emerging job market requirements.
The CM, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of SKUAST, said the State Agricultural Universities need to lay greater stress on creating centres of excellence by focusing on the sectors, with high growth potential on sustained basis for benefiting the State in a big way.
The CM was addressing the 20th University Council meeting of the SK University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir, at Raj Bhavan, here today, an official statement said.
The CM urged the Vice Chancellors to organize relevant short-term training courses in both the Agricultural Universities of the State, so that the trained youth are equipped with the required skills to set up their own ventures.  
Minister for Horticulture and Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma, put forth several suggestions for the growth of these sectors, pointing out that they have a vast potential in the State.
Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir, observed that certain initiatives had already been taken to secure seed replacement of maize and potato crops, the ongoing efforts would need to be enlarged.
He said both the Agricultural Universities and the Agriculture Department have to play a pro-active role in the production of high quality seed, keeping in view the requirements of various areas of the State.     
Vice Chancellor, SKUAST, Kashmir, Dr Tej Partap, made a detailed power point presentation dwelling on the achievements of the University and the major tasks to be handled during the next few years.
He also dwelt on the various components of the Rs. 100 crore special grant announced by the Prime Minister for the University.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST