With an aim to foster research and cooperation for the risk mitigation of agriculture products, a research lab ‘Knowledge for Education and Sustainable Agriculture Risk Management (KESAR) Cell has been established at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar campus.
The KESAR Cell is a joint effort of SKUAST-K and the Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited (AIC) for academic and research cooperation, developing a post-graduate diploma program curriculum for Agri Stack, providing internship opportunities to SKUAST-K students, expanding Joint Research Programs and sharing of facilities between the two organisations. The goal of KESAR Cell is to explore research opportunities in remote sensing and agriculture for students and officials.
Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad and Chairman and Managing Director, AIC, Girija Subramanian inaugurated the KESAR Cell at the Shalimar campus.
Speaking at the occasion, Prof Ganai said the KESAR cell a joint effort with the AIC will not only be beneficial for the students opening doors for them to explore new opportunities like Agri Stack but will also benefit the agriculture community through risk management in agriculture.
Girija Subramanian, in her address, said through this initiative of KESAR Cell, AIC is committed to contributing to the knowledge development of students, particularly in agriculture and developing technology-based solutions to support the farming community.
Regional Manager, AIC, J&K and Ladakh, G Senthil Kumar, who was also present at the inaugural ceremony, stated that the best of his team will be placed in the KESAR cell, who will work on innovation in the Kashmir region, which can be slowly spread to the other parts of the country.
The ceremony was attended by officials from both organizations, including, Dr Shabir A Bangroo, Assistant Professor, Department of Soil Science, Dr Naveed Hameed, CEO, SKUAST K Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Centre, Kaiser G Rather, Assistant Manager, AIC of India, and MK Huddar, Administrative Officer from AIC of India.
In February this this, AIC of India and SKUAST- Kashmir signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an aim to put the impetus on developing Agri stack and student internship programmes. The MoU was signed by the Chairman-cum-managing Director, AIC of India, and Director of Research SKUAST Kashmir, in the presence of the Vice Chancellor, SKUAST Kashmir on the sideline of the International Education Fair 2023 organized by the University at New Delhi.