Srinagar, Oct 14: The inaugural function of the 20th Annual Workshop of All India Coordinated Research Project on Plastic Engineering in Agriculture Structure and Environment Management (PEASEM) was held today in the Vice Chancellor’s Conference Hall on October 14, 2024. and the session was chaired by Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST Kashmir. Dr SN Jha, Deputy Director General (Agri-Engineering), ICAR was the guest of honor on the occasion. The other guests included Dr K Narsaiah, Assistant Director General, Process Engineering, Dr Pritam Chandra, Former Director, ICAR-CIAE and Professor Sharda University, Dr TBS Rajput (Ex Project Director, WTC, IARI), Dr KVR Rao, Head, Irrigation and Drainage, CIAE, Bhopal. Prof DM Makhdoomi, Director, Education and Extension, Prof Shabir A Wani, Dean, Horticulture, Dr TH Masoodi, Registrar, SKUAST Kashmir, Prof AH Mughal, Associate Director Research, Prof Rohitashw Kumar, Associate Dean, COAET, Dr Rakesh Sharda, Project Coordinator, PEASEM, and Prof Junaid Khan, Estates Officer, Prof J. Dixit of COAET, Prof GM Mir of COAET were also present on the occasion. The experts from the industry, Rajiv Rai from Innovative Green Houses, Ludhiana and Parvinder Singh from Blue Stall Private Ltd. also participated . Prof Nazir A Ganai praised the efforts of the scientists in organising this national- level workshop and welcomed all the delegates to SKUAST Kashmir. He stressed the importance of sustainable agricultural practices for achieving food sufficiency while ensuring equity and inclusiveness.
He also emphasised the need for plastic recycling and informed the audience regarding many groundbreaking initiatives of the varsity in this direction. He also highlighted the need for technological interventions to improve yield and put all effort into the second green revolution.
Prof SN Jha praised SKUAST’s efforts in establishing new centre for Artificial Intelligence and developing other technologies. He expressed his pleasure in witnessing the progress in cutting-edge research and translational research. He advised the audience to pick a leaf out of SKUAST Kashmir’s book and work towards securing more IPRs and awards. He also underlined the need for plasticulture and recycling on campuses. Dr K Narsaiah also shared his insights about the successful coordination and execution of the AICRP project. Other experts also addressed the gathering and shared their insights. Prof Mughal delivered the welcome address and Dr Rakesh Sharda presented a detailed coordinator’s report highlighting the various achievements of ICAR-PEASEM.Dr Ambreen Hamadani (Asst. Professor, CAIML) conducted the proceedings.Several books were also released on the occasion.
