SRINAGAR: A delegation led by the Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST-Kashmir, along with representatives from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today to discuss the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Resilient Agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir.
The team included Dr. Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General – Research and Innovation, and Dr. Sean Mayes, Global Research Program Director at ICRISAT. They briefed the Chief Minister on ICRISAT’s global contributions in crop research and fodder production, highlighting scientific innovations and best practices implemented in various regions. The delegation also shared insights from their visit to J&K and their interactions with senior government officials.
During the discussions, the delegation highlighted both the potential and the challenges in strengthening the agriculture and allied sectors in the region. Chief Minister Abdullah noted that changing climate patterns have made rainfall less predictable, presenting new challenges for farmers.
He further observed that while Jammu and Kashmir has a significant demand for livestock products, it still relies heavily on imports to meet local needs. Since livestock rearing requires substantial quantities of fodder—much of which is currently sourced from outside the Union Territory—there is considerable opportunity to boost indigenous fodder production.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasized that SKUAST-Kashmir can play a crucial role in promoting self-reliance in this vital sector.
