SRINAGAR: Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Srinagar, SKUAST-Kashmir, in collaboration with 41 Battalion BSF, launched two Skill Development Certificate Courses on Hi-Tech Mushroom Farming and Digital Soil Mapping for precision Agriculture at KVK Campus today.
The Training Course was inaugurated by Prof Nazir A Ganai, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Kashmir, in the presence of Prof. R.H. Kanth, (Director Extension), Rifat Aftab Qureshi (Additional District Development Commissioner, Srinagar) and Sanjai K. Singh (Commandant 41 Bn BSF Humhama), who presided as the Guests of honour.
The certificate course is being co-hosted by 41Bn BSF and with technical support by MRTC, FOH SKUAST-K and IMDC Directorate of Agriculture Production, Lal Mandi.
In his inaugural address, the Vice Chancellor, exhorted the organisers and the participating youth to make the said skill course purposeful and impact-oriented to establish their commercial mushroom enterprises for the cultivation of high-value medicinal mushroom strains to ensure their livelihood and economic security.
Prof. Ganai advised the PI. MRTC to submit a proposal for an MoU with other Countries on the supply and value chain system for mushroom cultivation.
The Director Extension, in her remarks, stressed the value addition of the mushroom products and their subsequent linkage with IBPR, SKUAST-K for branding and marketing of the products for higher market prices.
The Vice Chancellor had a word of appraisal for the KVK Team led by Dr. Simnani in bolstering the efforts to collaborate and strengthening the proactive linkage with all stakeholders and defence forces in particular, besides upscaling the KVK activities.
Prof. Shamim A. Simnani, Head KVK Srinagar, outlined the program’s objective to nurture and foster entrepreneurial skills among the youth in line with the PM’s Slogan of Skilling of Next Gen. is a national need and foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat to bridge the gap between industry demand and skill requirement so as to reduce dependence on the government. jobs and to make the youth self-reliant and self-empowered.
On the occasion, Custom Hiring Farm Machinery Centre of the Kendra, established under HADP Project-09, was also inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor along with the other dignitaries.
Release of a booklet titled “Media Led Agriculture Extension Outreach Journey of the KVK Srinagar by the Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K was the highlight of the event.
The event was attended by Rajesh K. Panday (Dy. CO 41 Bn), Dr. I.A. Mir, Dr. Hasseb ur Rehman, Dr. Showket, Dr. Owais, the coordinators of the programme, officers from Deptt. of Agriculture Production besides expert resource persons from IMDC & MRTC, representatives from HADP P. No: 09.
Meanwhile, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) commenced a seven-day Training Programme on “Fruit Tree Management” from 5th to 09th February 2026 at Directorate of Extension, Shalimar.
The programme is being organized by the Directorate of Research, SKUAST-Kashmir, in collaboration with the Directorate of Extension, SKUAST-K, under the IFAD-sponsored Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP).
The programme was inaugurated today by Chief Guest Prof Raihana Habib Kanth, Director Extension & Dean Faculty of Horticulture, SKUAST-K in presence of Prof Ashiq H Pandith Head Division of Fruit Science & Coordinator JKCIP SKUAST-K and Dr Mohammad Iqbal Bhat, Coordinator Upscaling collectivization JKCIP SKUAST-K , senior faculty.
The training programme is being designed to strengthen scientific orchard management practices among stakeholders, with a special focus on capacity building of Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs) under the Upscaling Collectivisation component of JKCIP. The initiative aligns with IFAD’s strategic priorities of enhancing rural livelihoods, promoting climate resilience, gender equity, youth inclusion, and sustainable agricultural development in Jammu & Kashmir.
The training features an intensive schedule of expert lectures, field demonstrations, hands-on training sessions, and exposure visits. Renowned scientists and subject matter specialists from SKUAST-K, ICAR-CITH Srinagar, Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, NRC Grapes Pune, and other premier institutions would be delivering lectures on orchard planning, scientific training and pruning, irrigation and fertigation management, flowering and fruiting regulation, pollination management, rejuvenation of old orchards, canopy architecture, and climate-smart fruit production systems.
A key highlight of the programme is the exposure visit to ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH), Srinagar, where participants are being trained on advanced concepts such as rootstock–scion interactions, precision pruning, high-density orchard systems, and long-term canopy sustainability.
