SKUAST, KVK Ganderbal celebrates ‘Millet Day’

KVK Ganderbal organized a training cum seed distribution programme on ‘Efficient Production Technology for Quality Seed Production in Oats’ under HADP Project-1 (Development of Seed & Seed Multiplication Chain) on 24th October 2024 at KVK campus. Millet Day was also celebrated, with a view to promote & propagate cultivation of millets across the district. The programme was presided over by Prof. Haroon Naik, Director Research, SKUAST-K as Chief Guest and Prof. M. Ashraf Bhat (Head, Plant Biotechnology & PI, HADP Project-1) & Prof. Ishfaq Abidi, Head KVK Ganderbal as Guest of Honour. Scientists & Supporting Staff of KVK, Officers from Line department of Agriculture, farmers, local leaders & media personnel also attended the events in good numbers.
Prof. Ishfaq Abidi, Chief Scientist & Head, gave a comprehensive overview of significance of fodder oats as versatile crop & their role in mitigating fodder scarcity. He highlighted the cultivation of fodder oats is a promising enterprise, which can prove lucrative for educated, unemployed youth. Prof. Abidi further emphasized millets as miracle grains & highlighted their scope as future food owing to their nutritive value, low glycemic index & tolerance to adverse climatic conditions. He reiterated the mission of KVK Ganderbal to promote & popularize various millets & oats across all blocks of District Ganderbal for upliftment of farming community of the district & thanked Hon’ble Vice Chancellor & Director Extension for their supervision & guidance.
In his presidential address, Prof. Haroon Naik, Director Research, SKUAST-K presented an overview of current farming practices in J&K and the need to follow scientific guidelines for profitable farming under changing climatic conditions. He signified the importance of millets as functional foods & cash crops, which can increase farmers’ income manifold. Prof. Haroon emphasized the role & scope of fodder oats and advised farmers to maintain contact with Team KVK to reap maximum benefits under various HADP schemes & MSME sponsored trainings. Prof. M. Ashraf Bhat, Head (Plant Biotechnology) emphasized millets as superfood & highlighted importance & scope of fodder oats, owing to their health benefits & high fiber content. He emphasized the impact of climate change on crops & the importance of Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning in combating such changes. On the occasion, quality oats seeds were distributed among the farmers.
In the technical sessions, Prof. Ishfaq Abidi, Prof. M. Ashraf Bhat & Dr. F. A. Ahanger gave comprehensive lectures regarding cultivation of fodder oats, production technology of new millets & Integrated Disease Management in fodder oats respectively. The participants were taken on a field visit across the campus of the Farm for demonstration of IFS Model in the KVK, which was enlightening & encouraging for them. The participants were acquainted with different varieties of millets being cultivated in KVK farm. The proceedings concluded with Interaction cum Feedback Session, wherein participants raised significant queries, which were deliberated on by Scientists & Officers of Line Department. The participants expressed deep gratitude for the programme and wished for more programmes in future. The session concluded with formal vote of thanks by Dr. S. N. Qureshi.