Srinagar, Sep 17: Vice President Hamid Ansari on Monday expressed concern over underdevelopment in production sector in Jammu and Kashmir even as he questioned proper implementation of various Government of India-funded programs by the state.
Ansari was addressing 8th Science Congress organized by Kashmir University here in collaboration with State Council for Science and Technology. He had arrived here last week.
“Food security is an area of great concern in the region and it needs attention,” Ansari said. “There is scope for improvement in areas of food production and crop yield in agriculture and horticulture,” Ansari underlined.
He said the sectors contribute more than 50 percent to the state economy and are main source of livelihood for people. “(But) only 42 percent of area is under irrigation in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
An official report recently said JK was facing around 40 per cent food grain deficit. The deficiency has been attributed to rampant conversion of agriculture land, lack of planning and depleting efficiency of the land.
The Vice President termed agriculture, horticulture and its allied sectors as critical to state economy. “State can introduce modern technology and tools to achieve better yield,” he said.
Ansari said despite large percentage of population associated with cattle rearing and sheep breeding in JK, state was dependent on imports to meet the mutton requirement.
J&K annually imports more than Rs 1100 crore worth mutton.
Ansari observed that traditional crafts, in which the state has a rich heritage, ought not to be neglected.
He called for greater contribution from scientists and researchers to address problems faced including power generation, food security, shrinking of glaciers and pollution of water bodies.
Ansari said the state faces greater challenges in making advances in science and technology.
He said state government need to “implement in letter and spirit” the special packages announced from time to time by Government of India in the fields of Science and Technology to give flip to the sector.
“This is the moral obligation (of the government) apart from being functional one,” Ansari said.
Earlier, Ansari called for effective collaboration amongst research institutes, universities, industry and government in order to make research more constructive and valuable.

GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS:
In his address, Governor NN Vohra talked about the deteriorating condition of Dal and Wullar lakes.
“Weeds have grown in the Dal. The Wullar and other water bodies would fascinate in the past,” Vohra said. “Why can’t our scientists find ways to deal with it? We have to wake up and start working for protection of environment,” Vohra said.
He said India was only country having achieved self sufficiency in agriculture sector. “There is lot we can boast of with regard to advancement in science and technology,” Vohra said. “We should not always be bemoaning and rather see excel made.”
He was apparently responding to observations made by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in his address that India was lagging behind US and China in terms of advancements in the scientific world.
Vohra said state was facing problems like less power generation and less production in agriculture sector.
Vohra said there are Government of India’s funds available for consolidating the field of science and research in JK.
“We have funds available but we are not able to use them,” he said. “We have to have determination and fix our goals.”

CHIEF MINISTER SPEAKS:
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said there was need to widen the scientific research orbit and catch up with the progress other countries have achieved.
He said not a single university from India figures among first 250 top universities of the world and even the number of researchers produced by the country and spending made on research and development annually was far below US and China.
“It is a challenge for us,” he said.
However Omar expressed optimism on growth of scientific research in the state. He counted successful cloning of Pashmina goat (Noorie) by Kashmir Agriculture University as among major achievements of the state.
The congress was also addressed by Minister for Science and Technology, Aga Syed Ruhullah, and Vice Chancellor KU Prof Talat Ahmad.

SCIENTISTS AWARDED:
At least 10 young scientists of the state were awarded with J&K Young Scientists Award, 2010, during the inaugural ceremony of 8th J&K Science Congress.
The awards instituted by J&K State Council for Science & Technology were given away by the Vice President.
The awardees include Dr Reyazul Rouf of SKUAST, Jammu, in the field of Agriculture and allied sciences, Dr Mubashir Masoodi of Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kashmir University for his outstanding work on Kashmir’s medicinal plants, Shaima of Department of Computer Sciences, NIT, for her contribution in the field of Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Sciences, Dr Sunil Wanchoo of SMVDU, Jammu, for his contribution in the field of Physical Sciences, Dr Sandeep Dogra of GMC, Jammu, for his contribution to Health & Medical Sciences, Dr Firdous Khanday  of Kashmir University and Dr. Parvinder Kumar of University of Jammu for their contribution to life sciences, Dr Muzamil Jan of Kashmir University for her contribution to Home/Social Sciences and Dr Monika Gupta of Jammu University for her contribution to Chemical Sciences.
On the occasion, an abstract book of the Science Congress was released.  It comprises 867 abstracts from 1448 researchers from within and outside the state.
Later, Ansari released the latest issue of ‘Central Asian Digest’, brought out by the Centre for Central Asian Studies.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST