Nov. 3, Kupwara: During his visit to Kulangam (Kupwara), Mr. Javid Ahmed Dar, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Co-operative and Elections, laid the cornerstone for the administrative and laboratory blocks of the Center for Excellence in Walnut Research.
The Center of Excellence on Walnut Research’s administrative and lab blocks will serve as a repository for germ plasma and scientific information for high-quality walnut production, a high-tech walnut processing and packaging center for walnut growers, and a training center for technology transfer and human resource development. This crucial project of SKUAST-K is being built at a project cost of Rs. 3.50 crore and is being funded by NABARD.
The Minister complimented SKUAST (K) for beginning construction on the Center for Excellence in Kupwara district, which will be extremely useful to the people of North Kashmir, while speaking to the local teachers and farmers. Instead of being officers, he asked SKUAST professors to be more like farmers in the field.
“SKUS-K’s initiatives have promoted agricultural innovations, supported farmer’s welfare, and boosted agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture,” the Minister said, praising SKUAST-K’s role in advancing agricultural research, education, and rural development in the region.
Through these efforts, SKUAST-K has become a key player in agricultural advancement, helping farmers and the economy as a whole, the minister continued.
The minister expressed gratitude to the district government for providing the center for excellence with 200 kanals of land.
In his speech, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmed Ganai stated that the Center for Excellence for Walnuts will concentrate on a number of important tasks, particularly in the fields of agricultural innovation, research, and knowledge sharing. Through scientific and practical innovations, this center will help boost the walnut industry’s overall growth, productivity, and economic sustainability.
According to him, this lab will provide farmers with medium-sized plants, well-organized walnut orchards, high-quality walnut plant material, and automated post-harvest management technology.
The site plan for the project, which will include a walnut processing unit and labs for walnut quality testing, was previously inspected by the Minster, MLA Langate, Khurshhed Ahmed Sheikh, vice-chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmed Ganai, Shri Bhalamudi Srindhar, Chief General Manager NABARD, Prof Haroon Rashid Naik, Director Research, ADDC Kupwara, Gulzar Ahmed Bhat, ADC Handwara, and Aziz Ahmed Rather.
The minister also spoke with the professors and farmers at SKUAST (K) and examined the stalls. The minister also spoke with farmers and heard their complaints.
