Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-Jammu) today held its 35th Board of Management Meeting (BoM) here at university’s main campus under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor, Prof. J.P. Sharma.

At the outset, the Chairman, of the BoM, SKUAST-Jammu highlighted various initiatives taken by the University in Academic, Research and Extension.

Prof. Sharma also talked about the salient achievements of the University viz Vice Chancellor to Village Programme, release of 21 crop varieties, sanctioning of three new faculties which include Faculty of Horticulture and Forestry, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, and Faculty of Dairy Technology,  commencement of degree programmes in B.Sc. Horticulture, M.Sc. (Ag.) Seed Technology, Ph.D. Agri-Business Management and Floriculture, functioning of two new KVKs each at Ramban and Kishtwar, promotion of agripreneurship, startups and five days Kisan mela etc.

Prof. Sharma briefed the meeting about the 7th Convocation and informed that 1305 degrees will be awarded including award of Honoris Causa (02).

In his remarks, Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo expressed his satisfaction with the initiatives, progress and achievements of the University.

He said that income of farmers of J&K needs to be enhanced and for that matter value addition and processing are the major focus areas. He advised three point strategy programme at village, district and University level needs to be implemented to aware, motivate and train farmers for adoption of secondary agriculture.

During the meeting, main agenda’s approved during the meeting included holding of Convocation of SKUAST-Jammu and conferring of degrees to the pass outs of the University, conferring of certificates of merit and gold medals in the 7th Convocation, consideration and approval of recommendations of selection committee(s) for the placement /promotion of teachers under CAS, restructuring/ reconstitution of existing Divisions of Faculty of Agriculture into Faculties of Agriculture, Agriculture Engineering and Horticulture and  Forestry with the adjustment of 69 newly sanctioned post in various Divisions of above Faculties including Faculty of Dairy Technology, establishment of SKUAST-Jammu Centre for innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship, establishment of Center of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Agriculture, establishment of College for Vocational Education and renaming of “Organic Farming Research Centre” as “Centre for Organic and Natural Farming” etc.

Earlier, Dr. S. K. Gupta, Registrar of SKAUST Jammu, delivered power point presentation about the activities of the varsity and presented the agendas of the meeting before the board.

Dr. Raghav Langer, Secretary, Planning and Development Department; Dr. S.P. Tiwari, Vice-Chancellor, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Sciences University, Jabalpur; Dr. Shiv Prased Kimothi, ADG (Coordination), ICAR, New Delhi; Dr. Janardan Singh, Former Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and former Director, UGC Academic Staff College, Department of Entomology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi; Shadi Lal Pandita, Director Codes, Finance Department, UT of J&K and other concerned attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, during the second day of ongoing 7th convocation a session on Vice Chancellor’s Gold Medal Award for best master and doctoral student of the University was organized.

About 35 master and doctoral scholars competed for the coveted award. 1st Alumni Meet of SKUAST-Jammu was also organized on the occasion where alumni of SKUAST-Jammu participated in large numbers. Cultural programme was also organized where students participated and enthralled the audience.