Srinagar, Feb 13: Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Prof. Nazir Ahmed Ganai, Thursday inaugurated a one-week Advanced Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programme (A-ESDP) on “New Techniques for Commercialization of Bio-Control Agents (Trichoderma) to Promote Organic Agriculture” at the university’s Shalimar campus.
The training program, organized by KVK Ganderbal, aims to equip research scholars, unemployed rural youth, entrepreneurs, and startups with knowledge on innovative approaches for organic input production, particularly biocontrol agents. The event was attended by Director Research, the Dean of the Faculty of Horticulture, Registrar, and HoDs from SKUAST-K.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Ishfaq Abidi, Chief Scientist and Head, KVK Ganderbal, who emphasized the importance of new techniques in organic agriculture. He highlighted the role of biopesticides and bio-control agents like Trichoderma in reducing the dependence on chemical pesticides, ensuring sustainability in agriculture. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Nazir Ahmed Ganai urged trainees to focus on low-cost development of biopesticides as viable alternatives to chemical pesticides. He elaborated on the benefits of the integrated farming system and how bio-control agents can be used for sustainable agriculture while optimizing available resources. Prof. Haroon A. Naik, Director of Research, SKUAST-K, discussed various MSME programs supporting entrepreneurship in agriculture. He encouraged participants to develop innovative business models for further scaling up organic input production.
During the interactive session, experts addressed participants’ queries on safe pesticide handling, plant-based alternatives, organic farm management, and vermicomposting. Discussions also focused on setting up low-cost biopesticide units and exploring opportunities in the organic agriculture sector. Several faculty members, including Prof. T. H. Masoodi (Registrar), Dr. M. Y. Zargar (Ex-Director Research), Dr. Satnam Singh, Dr. Malik Mukhtar, Dr. Z.A. Baba, and Mr. Ayoub Qadri, shared their insights and congratulated KVK Ganderbal for organizing the program. The proceedings were conducted by Dr. Suja Nabi Qureshi and Dr. Amir Bashir, who provided an overview of the training modules. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Shaheen Farooq, Animal Scientist at KVK Ganderbal. This initiative by SKUAST-Kashmir reflects its ongoing efforts to promote organic farming practices and support entrepreneurship in sustainable agriculture.
