BANDIPORA: The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) on Thursday conducted a one-day Awareness Programme cum Input Distribution at the remote village of Shahgund in Bandipora district under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).
The programme titled “Rainfed Area Development”, was organized by the Dryland Agriculture Research Station (DARS), Rangreth, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture.
During the event, quality fodder oats seed was distributed among farmers to promote fodder cultivation and ensure its wider dissemination within the farming community.
On the occasion, Training Coordinator, Dr. Fayaz Ahmad Bahar, Professor Agronomy, SKUAST-Kashmir, who highlighted the university’s role in reaching out to the farming community and emphasized the importance of fodder oats in sustaining livestock productivity and enhancing fodder availability in rainfed areas.
Professor (Genetics and Plant Breeding), Dr. Ajaz Ahmad Lone and Senior Scientist, DARS, Dr. Altaf Ahmad Wani, elaborated on the contribution of improved fodder varieties in replacing traditional landraces and assured farmers of continued technical support for crop diversification and profitability enhancement.
Crop cards of the distributed fodder crop were also handed over to farmers as ready references for improved management and record-keeping.
The programme concluded with an interactive session between scientists and farmers, which witnessed active participation from Agricultural Extension Officer, Subdivision Sumbal, Bandipora.