Dr J P Sharma of IARI Appointed as Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST, Jammu

Krishi Jagran congratulates and welcome the appointment of Dr. J.P. Sharma as Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST). Dr Sharma is presently working as Joint Director, Extension, and Director, Centre for Advance Faculty Training (Extension) Agricultural Research Institute (Pusa), New Delhi. He has a vast experience of over 26 years conducting strategic research, guiding, teaching post graduate students, conducting national/international training programmes and carrying out rural Development activities in the farmers’ field. He earned his Doctoral degree from IIT Delhi and Post Graduation from GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, and was awarded Fellowships from IIT and UNDP respectively. He is an accredited entrepreneurial motivational trainer. 

He has handled 13 institutional and 16 externally funded research projects. He has to his credit researches on highly relevant topics like assessment, refinement of agricultural technologies, peri-urban agriculture and entrepreneurship development conducted as part of externally funded projects from reputed national/international organizations. He has designed and developed innovative extension approaches like IARI-Post Office Linkage Extension Model (Krishi Dak), Cyber Extension Model, Expert Systems, Cyber Extension Portal, E-learning Module, National Extension Programme, IARI-Voluntary Organization Partnership Programme and Innovative farmer led extension delivery system (IFLED) for better and faster dissemination of technologies generated in the institution. Substantially contributed for developing entrepreneurship in agriculture for creating farm and non-farm based employment opportunities in rural society. 

Many of his research findings became government priorities. Introduced / taught 11 PG courses in Agricultural Extension for more than 27 years and guided 20 Post-graduate students as Chairman/Co-Chairman/Member of Advisory Committee. Developed linkages with national and international organizations like DST, DBT, NABARD, Insecticide India Limited, PCRA, IIT Delhi, SAUs & ICAR Institutes (16), Department of Post and CABI, World Vision, AREP, Nepal and Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar to formulate collaborative extension/research projects. He has been nominated as a member of Sub-group VII under Working Group on Agricultural Research and Education for XIIth Plan of Planning Commission, working group on agriculture technology sharing (ATS) formed during the G20 meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientist, Core Group Member in National programme on "Scientific Validation and Research on Panchgavya (SVAROP)” of Ministry of Science & Technology. Besides, Dr. Sharma is member of various important committees like Academic Council, Board of Management, Extension Council, Research Advisory Council (RAC) of the Institute. He has been nominated as members of RAC & Quinquennial Review Committee (QRT) of ICAR Institutes etc. 

Promoted science communication as Chief Editor and Editor of national and international journals like Journal of Community Mobilization for Sustainable Development, International Journal of Applied Science and Humanities, Asian Journal of Extension Education, Journal of Agri Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University, Egypt. He has published more than 105 papers in reputed journals, magazines and newspapers, published 30 books, bulletins. He has organized more than 100 trainings including national & international programmes as Course Director on the topics of national relevance. He made scholarly presentation in 55 national and 30 international fora. He has also organized/participated in more than 100 exhibitions/farmers' fairs. Dr. Sharma is member of various national & International professional committees and has been invited as consultant/expert by various organizations including Planning Commission, DBT, DST, Vigyan Bharati (VIBHA), National advisory board of Agrivision, etc. 

He has contributed immensely as Secretary, International Federation for Women in Agriculture and Founder President, Society for Community Mobilization for Sustainable Development. He is coordinator of Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (Govt flagship scheme), Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (MoHRD), Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Krishi Shiksha Yojana (MoA&FW). He is Honorary Fellow of Society for Plant Research (SPR) and Andaman Science Association. He has received more than 60 awards/recognition including Dr Rajendra Prasad Puruskar and Hari Om Ashram Trust Award of ICAR, Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar of Ministry of Home Affairs, Shanti Prasad Goel Memorial Award, Manthan Award – South Asia and Dr. G. S. Vidyarthi Award for making outstanding contributions for the upliftment of the farming community. 

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), is a multi-campus university, named after great patriotic leader Jenab Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah popularly known as Sher-e-Kashmir. It was established in the year 1982 through an Act of the J&K Assembly, with headquarter at Shalimar, Srinagar. In the year1998-99, the University was renamed as Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) and its territorial jurisdiction redefined to Kashmir and Ladakh regions.