GNSONLINE SRINAGAR
SRINAGAR JULY 23:– Marked second day of a two-day National workshop on “Technological Advances in Animal Biotechnology”. The program was jointly organised by Division of Animal Biotechnology Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Shuhama and National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) Hyderabad. Honorable Vice Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai in the inaugural function emphasized to motivate youth to various agricultural and allied activities so that the technologies developed at the university are efficiently disseminated to the farming community for better economic returns, socio-economic upliftment, food, financial and nutritional security. He desired that progressive farmers must come forward with innovative ideas to enable SKUAST-Kashmir to transform those areas into action. The Vice Chancellor praised the Division of Animal Biotechnology and Directorate of Extension in coordinating such programmes with others agencies like NIAB. Such programmes help in building technologically sound farmers and enhance the scientist- Field functionaries- Farmer interactions. He appreciated the efforts of NIAB scientists for development of various technologies and point of care diagnostic kits for detection of various animal diseases at farmer’s door steps. On the occasion, Prof. Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi, Director Extension elaborated the essence of the program for sustainable animal production systems and products which will be available to the consumers at affordable price. Professor Makhdoomi vouched many successful biotechnology based successes stories and advised farmers and farmwomen to adopt such technologies to help taking on agriculture to new hights. Dr G. Taru Sharma, Director NIAB, delivered an overview about the activities being pursued at NIAB which include development of various technologies like diagnostic kits that have been made available to farmers at affordable price. She narrated the farmer friendly technology developed by NIAB like detection of various animal diseases like brucellosis, mastitis, snake bite etc. She laid emphasis on the awareness and commercialization of these kits so that the technologies are available with all the farming community of the country. She also discussed various researchable issues which need to be discussed threadbare for logistic solution. Some progressive farmers like Dr Javaid Ahmad Dar, Dr Adnan Ali Khan and Mr Mohammad Ramzan also deliberated upon various issues faced by the farmers and gave brief ideas and feedback about transforming innovation to entrepreneurship. The program concluded with vote of thanks by program Coordinator, Prof. Riyaz Ahmad Shah.