SKUAST-K innovator bags RKVY Raftaar seed grant

Srinagar, Jan 6: A Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir scholar turned innovator has won RKVY Raftaar Seed Grant of Rs 5 lakh from the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare under the banner of MANAGE Hyderabad.

A statement said that Shaista Khan from SKUAST-K’s Faculty of Forestry, Benihama, won the seed grant for her innovative idea Herbodyne, an herbal toothpaste extracted from a native Kashmiri plant.

Pursuing PhD in the Division of Natural Resource Management, Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K, Shaista was mentored under SKUAST-K Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (SKIIE) Centre by Prof Tariq H Masoodi, Registrar SKUAST-K, and Naveed Hamid, CEO, SKIIE Centre.

SKIIE Centre is playing a pivotal role in evolving technologies and creating innovations which not only effectively and efficiently improve the production of these sectors but also promote businesses and industries associated with agriculture in Kashmir.

Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir A Ganai, congratulated Shaista Khan for her achievement. He further stated that these achievements are not only to cherish but it boost the culture of Innovation, Incubation and Startups in Jammu and Kashmir as it will act as a benchmark for others to come and join this startup mission.