Principal Secretary Agriculture Production, Shailendra Kumar, today visited Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops (MRCFC) Khudwani, SKUAST-Kashmir and participated in Live Exhibition of Temperate Rice Biodiversity.

During the visit, Principal Secretary undertook a detailed tour of the research trials and was briefed about the centre’s ongoing research & seed production programmes. He was apprised of the centre’s remarkable contributions over the past eight decades in rice and other field crops, with a special emphasis onthe meticulous germplasm conservation program.

The Principal Secretary was accompanied by Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Kashmir, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganie; Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, Athar Aamir; Director Agriculture Kashmir; Director Research; Director Planning; ADC Kulgam; Chief Agriculture Officers; Scientists from MRCFC-Khudwani; Programme Coordinators of South Kashmir KVKs and officers from various line departments.

Interacting with the officers during the visit, Shailendra Kumar stressed on the need for demand-driven and development-oriented research to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of food grains in J&K. He also emphasized on scaling up oilseed production capacity to meet the ambitious target of area expansion to 3 lakh hectares under oilseed cultivation.

The Principal Secretary called for popularization of advanced, proven technologies among farmers through frontline demonstrations. He further assured support for upgrading the centre’s research, development and educational role through adequate funding.

On the occasion, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganie, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Kashmir, congratulated the Khudwani centre for serving as a role model and for gaining recognition at prestigious national and international platforms.

Addressing the critical issue of rice blast disease, Professor Ganie highlighted that MRCFC, Khudwani serves as Nodal Centre for Rice Blast Screening in India, underscoring its national significance in crop protection research.

Head of MRCFC Khudwani, Dr. Najeeb ul Rehman Sofi presented a comprehensive progress report detailing the centre’s remarkable journey and achievements since its establishment in 1942. He also highlighted the centre’s pivotal role in developing rice, rapeseed and wheat varieties, which have contributed significantly to improvements in productivity, quality, and area coverage.

Dr. Najeeb also briefed the Principal Secretary on how the institution has evolved into a premier research facility over more than eight decades of dedicated service to agricultural science.