Minutes of 22nd Scientific Advisory Committee Meeting of
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ganderbal
The 22nd Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Ganderbal for the year 2026-27 was held on 10th June, 2026 in the Conference Hall of KVK Ganderbal, Shuhama under the Chairmanship of Prof. (Dr.) Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir to discuss the progress achieved in respect of the mandated activities for the year 2025-26 & to review and fine-tune the KVK’s Action Plan for the coming year. The meeting was co-chaired by Prof. (Dr.) Raihana Habib Kanth, Director Extension, SKUAST-K. The meeting was also attended by Scientists of the University, Officials of Line Departments, Representatives of J&K Bank/NABARD, media personnel and progressive farmers/entrepreneurs.
At the outset, the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, accompanied by other dignitaries, inaugurated several new units at the campus, including the High-Density Pear Orchard, Diversified Stone Fruit Block, Cucurbitaceae Crop Cafeteria, Sindh Greens, Fragrance Valley (Lavender Bloom), Fodder Crop Cafeteria and Food Technology Lab. The occasion also marked the official release of KVK Ganderbal's newsletter, RIZQ: Growth beyond Harvest, alongside a comprehensive Soil Testing Manual.
Dr. Shaheen Farooq, SMS (Animal Science) welcomed the Chairman of Scientific Advisory Committee and all the other participants. Dr. Ajaz Ahmed Malik, Senior Scientist & Head KVK Ganderbal presented the Action Taken Report & Annual Progress Report for the year 2025-26. During the presentation, the Hon’ble Chairman and the participants appreciated the KVK team's dedication under the leadership of Dr. Ajaz Ahmed Malik (Senior Scientist & Head). They commended the collective efforts that have transformed the KVK into a premier Extension-cum-Demonstration Centre in the country. Additionally, valuable feedback and insights were shared by the progressive farmers and officers from the line departments.
Summary of the proceedings is as under:
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, lauded the efforts of KVK Ganderbal under the leadership of Senior Scientist & Head, for establishing a state-of-the-art model KVK. The Chairman highlighted that the Station serves as a vital hub for farmer empowerment & encouraged farmers to seek technical guidance beforehand in order to elevate their farming outcomes.
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The Chairman suggested to enhance land-use efficiency by following intercropping in the stone fruit block. He envisioned a continuous crop rotation, suggesting to introduce watermelon as a summer crop, followed by garlic for the winter cycle to ensure sustainable & high-yield crop intensification. |
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The Chairman suggested that greater emphasis should be given to Integrated Pest & Disease Management particularly through biological & eco-friendly approaches. |
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The Chairman directed for strengthening mushroom cultivation, bee keeping, protected cultivation & other high value enterprises as avenues for rural employment. |
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The Chairman directed that equipment available in Food Tech Lab be used for training local agri-entrepreneurs for processing and value addition for better capacity building. |
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He suggested that the KVK should explore opportunities for extramural funding & collaborative projects to enhance the reach and effectiveness of its extension and capacity-building activities. |
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The Chairman directed for implementation of block-wise training programs and mass awareness campaigns for leaf miner management in Ganderbal, owing to the rampant occurrence of this disease across the District. He also suggested to design an illustrative technical pamphlet on leaf miner management strategies both in English & Urdu. |
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He suggested that more programmes regarding animal health & diagnostic visits should be conducted in collaboration with Dept. of animal husbandry particularly in far-flung areas of Ganderbal. |
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He directed that more awareness cum training programmes be organized for farmers on the prevention and control of lumpy skin disease, fowl pox and ovine foot rot. |
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He also suggested to conduct programmes for the promotion of vermi-technology among farmers. |
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The Chairman directed to create awareness among farmers about the importance of soil sampling and soil testing for site-specific nutrient management. |
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The Chairman suggested that KVK should organize more capacity-building trainings for in-service personnel of the Fisheries Department to enhance their technical knowledge & field-level competencies. |
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He directed that the KVK should promote cost-effective trout feed among trout farmers to reduce feed costs, improve profitability and enhance the overall efficiency of trout farming in the district. |
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Prof. (Dr.) Raihana Habib Kanth, Director Extension SKUAST-K commended the scientists of KVK Ganderbal for the dedicated execution of their mandated activities. She also expressed sincere gratitude to all the participating officers for their valuable presence and constructive feedback. Following her opening remarks, the Worthy Director raised the following key agenda items and observations for consideration:
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Issue/Agenda |
Action |
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The Director directed that more training programmes should be organized for farmers on sensory evaluation, drying, dehydration, and post-harvest management of fruits & vegetables to improve value addition and reduce post-harvest losses. |
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The Director appreciated the work done under the One Block, One Product initiative and suggested expanding its reach. |
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She suggested conducting more training programmes on canopy management and training & pruning of fruit orchards & High-Density Plantation in collaboration with Department of Horticulture. |
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She directed to organize hands-on training programmes for local farmers on high-value and exotic vegetables, including off-season vegetable production using precision agriculture technologies, with emphasis on improving productivity, profitability and market opportunities. |
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The Director suggested promotion of natural and organic soil management practices among farmers for enhancement of soil health. |
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She also suggested that KVK should organize training programmes on ornamental fish keeping for promoting entrepreneurship opportunities self-employment among farmers and rural youth. |
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