SKUAST’s organisational structure leaves indelible mark on Bangladesh delegation

Pulwama, Nov 30: The organisational structure and proactive approach of Sher-e Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has left an indelible impression on a delegation of agriculture officers from the neighbouring country of Bangladesh.
The six member delegation has been on a visit to SKUAST-K and its affiliated centres for the last five days exploring avenues of collaboration with the varsity in multiple areas of agriculture and allied sectors.
Md. Hasan Imam, Additional Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh and Technical officer on deputation basis told Rising Kashmir that they were highly impressed with the proactive approach of Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Dr Nazir Ahmad Ganai and appreciated his visionary thinking.
The officer narrated that their government has been working on development of agrometrological departments in Bangladesh Agriculture University, Mymensing and Bangabandhu Sheikh Majibur Rahman University, Gazipur.
“ The agriculture university of Kashmir has great knowledge in agrometrology and other areas of agriculture,” Imam said, adding that they are looking to collaborate with the varsity in multiple areas with prime focus on agrometrology.
Imam informed that their country has a system for sharing of data on agrometrological issues.
“We issue agrometrological advisory twice a week in Bangladesh,” he said, adding that they want to enrich their agrometrological advisory for their farmers.
He added that it was in November of 2020 that he was in India to attend a World Bank seminar and he visited different institutes.
“ The response from agriculture university of Kashmir was quick and timely, they have a proactive approach,” he said, adding that the Vice Chancellor of the varsity organised a seminar where they were introduced to the whole faculty.
Imam was very much appreciative of the organisational structure of SKUAST-K having the main campus in Shalimar and other centres spread to all parts of Kashmir.
“ The university is well connected with rural people and it knows their needs,” Imam said, adding that their universities too are connected with local people but not at such a large scale.
He added that the varsity has positioned itself as a bridge between people and government and has greater autonomy in taking independent decisions.
Imam revealed that the delegation is hopeful of signing three MOU’s with the varsity by January of next year.
Since the MOU’s are between two countries we need to get permission from the government and we are expecting the approval in a month or two,” he said, adding that their university has already granted consent for the collaboration.
The delegation is looking to collaborate with SKUAST-K in the areas of advancement of land resources, farm orchard preparation, agriculture automation, precision farming with focus on apple and other fruit crops, Saffron, Rice and other vegetable crops, IT and IT enabled services, IPR and Patent, incubation and innovation of start ups and others.