A major event with lessons for the future

The remarkable growth of the Kissan Mela since its inception a decade ago has been gratifying for everyone associated with SKUAST-Kashmir. This year, Gongul – the Agritech Mela 2025 – expanded from a two-day event to three day, successfully drawing people from diverse backgrounds, including farmers, politicians, administrators, business leaders from both rural and urban communities. Enthusiastic visitors, regardless of age or gender, traveled from near and far to engage with the event purposefully. Extensive media coverage, particularly on social media, reinforced the event’s success in achieving its objectives. The dedication and collaborative efforts of every university employee, from top to bottom, along with the students who worked tirelessly for months to ensure its success, deserve heartfelt congratulations.

Stalls showcasing innovative startups, aromatic and medicinal plant products, organic herbal food supplements, and processed sheep hide products drew significant interest, keeping visitors engaged in discussions and clarifications. The display of patent certificates further underscored the exclusivity of various innovative products. Sufficient stocks of seeds and planting material were made available, as indicated by the majority of visitors carrying samples while leaving the venue on the third day - the additional day.

An additional attraction of the event was the pet and domestic animal show, which featured a wide variety of species and breeds, including dogs, cats, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, and birds such as poultry, turkey, pigeons, ducks, geese, and emus. The distinctive plumage of exotic poultry breeds and the soft fur textures of rabbits captivated children. Many of these species, introduced for the first time in the mela and displayed in a dedicated, well-organized space, transformed the exhibit into both an educational and entertainment hub for young visitors. Despite being removed from their natural environments, herds, colonies or flocks and suddenly exposed daily to large crowds for several days at a stretch, the sentient animals and birds provided attendees with a unique and engaging experience.

The Registrar’s assertion during a DDK telecast on the eve of the event—"There is something for everyone at Gongul" - proved accurate. However, one notable ever increasing challenge was the limited parking space within and around the university. Even with optimal utilization of all the existing space up to several kilometers, congestion caused inconvenience to not only the attendees, but also to the residents and the visitors to Mughal gardens in the vicinity.

On my way back from the Shalimar University headquarters on the final day, I reflected on the campus landscape as I had known it before my retirement over two years ago. The transformation was striking, with several new buildings under construction and a second conference hall already inaugurated. This reflection led me to offer two humble suggestions for the university authorities:

1. Prioritize vertical construction to optimize space utilization.
2. Implement a vehicle-free campus policy, similar to those adopted by IITs, by constructing a multi-storey parking facility near the main gate. Within the campus, encourage sustainable transport options such as bicycles, electric or solar-powered autos, or even tongas (ponies with diapers).

Advocating for environmental sustainability holds true value only when backed by concrete actions within our own institutions. To ensure that the Agritech Mela continues to expand and improve in the coming years, these suggestions merit thoughtful consideration. Such measures could also be extended to other educational institutions, fostering environmental awareness among students from an early age.

Prof. Mujeeb Fazili, Ex- Associate Director Research (A.S) & Former - Head, Division of Veterinary Clinical Complex, SKUAST-Kashmir.