Srinagar, June 19: A seven-day capacity building programme (training of trainers) on “Revitalizing Wool and Pelt industry in Jammu and Kashmir” started on Monday at Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir.
The training programme is being organized by the Division of Livestock Products Technology, FVSc & AH as a part of the project entitled “Promotion of Wool and Pelt for Effective Processing and Marketing” in collaboration with the Division of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension, FVSc & AH and School of Agri-economics and Horti-business Management, SKUAST-Kashmir under the banner of Holistic Agriculture Development Programme.
The objective of the training programme is to upgrade the knowledge and skill of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons of Sheep Husbandry Department Kashmir on different facets of wool and pelt production and their processing into different products with better entrepreneurial and marketing prospects. Prof. Mohammad Tufail Banday, Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry was the Chief Guest of the occasion. In his address, he highlighted the significance of the training programme for the overall development of wool and pelt industry in J&K. He also encouraged the participants to take the knowledge gained during the training programme to the field for the upliftment of the artisans associated with woolen and associated sectors. Prof. Sarfaraz A Wani, Former Director Research, SKUAST-Kashmir and one of the main architects of HADP attended the function as the Guest of Honour. He emphasized about the need to implement the schemes being envisaged in the HADP with special reference to wool and pelt industry, currently in dwindling stages. Prof. SH Baba, Head, Division of Agri-Economic and Horti-Business Management urged the house to get a sustainable economic model viable for local climatic conditions keeping in view the unique geographic location of the valley.
Earlier, Dr. Sheikh Rafeh Ahmad, Assistant Professor welcomed the dignitaries, guests and participants to the event. The Organizing Secretary of the event, Dr. Asif Hassan Sofi briefed about the training programme. He said that the programme is a part of HADP, where trainers shall be trained on various facets of wool and pelt processing, revival of the industry by embodying entrepreneurship, marketing and promotion aspects under a holistic umbrella.
He apprised that the resource persons from multiple organizations including agri-business, agri-marketing, EDI, NABARD, SIDCO, Industries and commerce, IICT etc. shall deliver lectures during the programme. The inaugural function was concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Prof. Abdul Hai, Head, Division of Veterinary Animal Husbandry Extension Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir.
