SKUAST-K to play bigger role in ensuring affordable food production in J&K: Darakhshan Andrabi

Srinagar, Oct 24: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir has to play a bigger role in ensuring the quality of life through the production of affordable, nutritious and safe food for the people, chairperson, J&K Wakf Board, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi said on Tuesday.

Dr Andrabi was speaking at the valedictory function of a ten-day hands-on training on ‘Imparting pre-clinical skills to research scholars via handling and use of animal models in translational research’ at Shalimar campus.

She said the university has to ensure and promote the judicious use of antimicrobials, pesticides and fertilizers in the agri-food systems considering the emerging metabolic and lifestyle diseases among the people.

Livestock diseases have a bearing on the economic growth of the people, and the Government of India has taken several initiatives like the National Animal Disease Control Programme for bettering the livestock health and progress of the farming community, she said, adding, that diversity, equity, and inclusivity is critical for institutional and societal growth and success. SKUAST-K is setting an example for the rest of the institutions in designing programmes that promote diversity and inclusivity, she said.

Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, who co-chaired the function, said the transition from a food deficit to food surplus nation, increase in life expectancy from 35 to 75 years, from traditional agriculture to secondary agri-economy, from knowledge power to superpower & IT Giant, India is taking bigger strides in achieving all this and beyond which is possible through advanced research and development in the areas of agriculture and allied sectors.

He said, translational research, vaccine technology, the establishment of BSL-2 laboratory, referral lab for chemical and residue analysis, centre for pre-clinical research and School of One Health are a few initiatives that SKUAST-K has taken for building a progressive and healthy Jammu & Kashmir. He thanked the UT Government for the support and help in making SKUAST-K a preferred destination for Agri-education.

The training was sponsored by the World Bank-ICAR-funded National Agricultural Higher Education Project for the institutional development of the SKUAST-K. Research scholars from across the country and from different disciplines participated in the workshop that aimed to develop skills among scholars in the area of laboratory animal research. Earlier, the Registrar, Central University of Kashmir, Prof Afzal Zargar, was the chairman of the inaugural function of the 10-day hands-on training. 

Besides officers of the university, Dr RA Untoo Ex-principal SKIMS Medical College and Dr Mohammad Ashraf Ganie, an endocrinologist from SKIMS Soura, Dr Praveen Koul, Incharge Animal Resource Facility Hyderabad, Heads of Divisions and other scientists participated in the valedictory function.