The two days annual mega event of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir has been scheduled for March 04-05 this year. This 8th Technology Exhibition cum Seed Sale Mela will be celebrated with the theme ‘Subsistence to Sustainable Commercial Agriculture’. SKUAST-K since its inception has been working towards the betterment of farming community of the region and has continuously engaged itself with different stakeholders with the ultimate aim of disseminating various technologies and interventions to the ultimate end users. This SKUAST-Kashmir does by its various outreach activities, FLDs and OFTs, hands on trainings, skill development initiatives, awareness and sensitization programmes and a host of other farmer specific activities. Different constituent units of SKUAST-Kashmir including KVKs spread over length and breadth of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and also in UT of Ladakh are regularly conducting Kisan Mela at district level every year for furthering the cause of farming community.
The annual Technology Exhibition cum Seed Sale Mela is a national level event witnessing the participation of farmers, students, youths, entrepreneurs, farm women, private players, input dealers, policy makers and planners different departments, institutions and agencies from all across the country. With the SKUAST-K going global, participation from across the globe is also expected in the mela. All of them will be available for each other.The Mela will witness participation of thousands with the active collaboration of all its faculties, colleges, KrishiVigyanKendras, research institutes and all the constituent units of the University.
The Exhibition cum Seed Mela organized under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K Prof. Nazeer Ahmed Ganai and the able guidance of Prof. Dil Mohammad
Makhdoomi, Worthy Director Extension, SKUAST-K will be inaugurated by Sh. Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Hon’ble Advisor to Governor Sh. Manoj Sinha. The Mela celebrated with the theme Subsistence to Sustainable Commercial Agriculture will focus on:
Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainability today is the buzz word all across the globe. Our crude and unscientific practices have already adversely affected our environment. The focus is now on sustainable agriculture practices which do not degrade or pollute our natural resources and does not result in loss of bio diversity. The tow day event will specially focus on sustainable agricultural practices and approaches like Organic and Natural Farming.Natural Farming practices are in line with resource conservation and the present government headed by Sh. Narendra Modi is also stressing a lot on promotion and upscaling of natural farming practices all over the country. Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of both the farm varisties of UT of Jammu and Kashmir has also stressed on promotion and mass scale adoption of natural farming practices. This year the Technology Exhibition cum Seed Sale Mela will specially focus on technologies demonstrating the organic inputs like Bio fertilizers, Bio-control agents, bio organic nutrient management, organic waste treatment and natural farming inputs like Bijamrita, and Jeevamrita All such interventions/inputs will be for sale as well as for demonstration purpose for the farming community of the region.
Sale of inputs/products
As the cropping season is to start in this region, farming community needs different kinds of inputs like hybrid and HYV of seeds, fertilizers, organic manures, plant protection chemicals, high quality planting material and farm implements. The mela will have all kinds of inputs and farm implements which can be purchased by all. Many input dealers and private agencies will be there displaying their products and inputs.
Empowered Champion Farmers
Champion Empowered farmers will be another attraction of the two days event. Farmers of the region including farm women and youths who by dint of their hard work and intellect have proved themselves and to others that agriculture is still a remunerative enterprise. They will be there in the mela depicting and showcasing their innovative technologies and products.
Nutri-Cereals
Nutri-Cereals popularly known as Millets are a group of small grained food crops. These are highly nutritive, tolerant to drought and other extreme weather condition; do not require much input and most of them are natives of the country. These are rightly being called as ‘Super Foods’ and ‘Food of Future’ that provide most of the nutrients required for normal functioning of human body.As the year 2023 is also being celebrated as International Year of Millets, the Mela comes with a unique opportunity to raise awareness about the nutritional and health benefits of these nutri-cereals. In our country, there is very low percentage of value addition and processing. This Mela will specially focus on this aspect wherein various ethnic value added food products made from different traditional crops will be at display.
Agri-Startups and Agri-Industrial Expo
Startups in the agriculture sector have been capturing the attention of all due to their immense potential in income and employment generation opportunities.SKUAST-K has also taken the lead in promoting establishment of different ventures related to agriculture sectorby upgrading the skills of youths. This mela will also give an opportunity to those young entrepreneurs to depict their business models and prototypes. Similarly, an Agri-Industrial Expo will also promote the products developed by various stakeholders for further procurement by industrial houses and also for the industrial houses to demonstrate their products for purchase by the farming community.
Guidance and Awareness
Most of the programmes and schemes of the government as well as other agencies do not reach the ultimate beneficiaries because of the lack of awareness and knowledge. To make them aware and guide them regarding various programmes and schemes different development departments as well as financial institutions like J&K Bank, SBI, ICICI, NABARD, HDFC and many other organizations will be there to guide and aware all. They will come up with relevant literature.
Digital Agriculture
Today agriculture is witnessing what is called ‘digitalisation’. Digitalisation of agriculture has emerged as another revolution, more so for the large numbers of the world’s smallholder farmers. Nearly a third of the global population relies on agriculture for a living, and growth in this sector has been shown to be at least twice as effective at reducing poverty as growth coming from other sectors. Thus Digitalisation has to be promoted. The Mela will stress on smart agriculture technologies, precision farming, agricultural drones and different mobile apps. SKUAST-K has already started working on this aspect. The maiden drone demonstration of the university was done a few months back at KVK Kulgam as well as at main campus Shalimar. In the mela drone demonstration will also be done for the farming community.
Farmers-Scientist interaction
Another feature of the mela will be the Farmers Scientist interaction where the farming community can interact with concerned Subject Matter Specialists of SKUAST-Kashmir for redressal of their queries.
Awards and Recognitions
The innovative farmers/farm women/young entrepreneur/students who have made significant and tangible contributions to the society will be recognized in the Mela through various awards.
Participation of SHG/FPOs/Educational Institutes
Different Self Help groups/ Farmer Producer Companies and Farmer Producer Organizations will also participate in this event with various kinds of niche products. The educational institutes of the valley will also be attending the mela wherein the students will learn more about agriculture and various farming practices. This in turn will definitely attract them and inspire them to try their fortunes in agriculture.
Livestock
Hybrid and high yielding livestock including cattles, goats and sheep will also be star attraction of mela. Different Poultry breeds will be demonstrated in the two days event. The poultry will also be available for sale.
Health Check up
SKUAST-K has also arranged for a free health check up camp for all wherein doctors will be available for consultation and free distribution of medicines.
The two day event will be a unique opportunity for all where in SKUAST-K will be demonstrating its technologies and show casing its achievements, others stakeholders will have this platform to learn, interact, update, build and expand their business.
(The Author is Director Extension, SKUAST-K)
