SKUAST Kisan Mela Twenty20: A Practical Education

Continuing the trend, and making a further stride in mission”Doubling farmers’ income by 2022″, SKUAST-Kashmir is organizing 5th TechnologyExhibition-cum-Seed Sale Mela (Farmers’ Fair/Kisan Mela) on 7th & 8thMarch, 2020. A huge public participation is expected in this razzamatazz. Anevent unique apropos to the contributions of Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, ProfessorNazeer Ahmad, as it took birth (in 2016) only after 5-6 months of his takingover the reins of SKUAST and nearly 33-years of her (SKUAST) age. An eventhaving significance in bringing farmers-scientists-industry people on oneplatform and share their past, present and future to create tomorrow today fora fair percentage of valley people who are truly associated with agricultureand allied sectors.

Kisan Mela provides an opportunity to all stakeholders topresent recent developments, new products and technology to the producers, andin return they get a chance to meet the company representatives and obtaindetailed information about latest technologies (theoretical and practicalknowledge, skills, and artefacts that can be used to develop products andservices as well as their production and delivery systems; technology can beembodied in people, materials, plant equipment and tools), methodology andapplication, legal regulation etc in addition to information transfer from oneanother. Agricultural information, which is dynamic due to increased farmer awareness,plays a crucial role in agricultural development and improving the livelihoodof farmers. Kisan Mela offers an exceptional opportunity to farmers to accessreliable, updated and relevant information, thus helps reduce farmers’ risk anduncertainty, and empowers them to make good decisions.

   

In view of recent disease outbreaks in livestock in districtKupwara and associated losses due to morbidity and mortality, Krishi VigyanKendra, Kupwara in collaboration with Animal & Sheep Husbandry District Unitshas started “Mission Deworming & Better Livestock Health”, an effort toprovide maximum affordable support to farmers for deworming of livestock andbettering livestock health. KVK has also sought support from leading veterinarypharmaceutical companies, to their maximum possible limit, in achieving thedesired targets. Kisan Mela Twenty20 provides the affected farmers and KVK awindow of opportunity to reap the maximum benefits.

As the clock is ticking, and as dairy farming asentrepreneurship is picking up in Kashmir valley, I hope Hon’bleVice-Chancellor (known for his liking and taste for farmer-friendlyinitiatives), on the pattern of Kisan Mela, makes it convenient to organize amedium-sized “Livestock Fair” at the picturesque spot of Mountain LivestockResearch Institute, Mansbal which hosts the only varsity-run dairy farm.Prolific livestock, imported elite germplasm, feed mill, well established milkplant producing quality, affordable and powerful/influential milk, wellequipped laboratory, book-rich library, worth seeing vermi-technology units,fodder bank, centre of advanced and applied research on dairy science, agilemind and more so (all supposed traits of MLRI, BUT…) shall strengthen thecommitment and will of visiting qualified unemployed youth towards dairyentrepreneurship. This endeavour shall be written in golden words in the annalsof SKUAST history in addressing the unemployment issue. Being a Vet, I crave forsuch fair and hope to see it in spring Twenty20.

I am sure farmers from nook and corner of the valley willvisit SKUAST Kashmir, Shalimar campus on 7th & 8th March, 2020. The auraand ambience of the venue will refresh the guests besides enriching theirknowledge base. I yearn for Kisan Mela-2021 & 2022 under the patronage ofHon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nazeer Ahmad for his passion for growth ofthis agricultural university and till completion of mission “doubling farmers’income by 2022”. I wish SKUAST Kashmir, my alma mater, a great going in itsvision and mission.

The views expressed are author’s own & not of theinstitution he works for

Aijaz Ahmad Dar, PhD is Subject Matter Specialist  (Animal Science), KVK Kupwara

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