SKUAST To Organize Technology Exhibition On March 6th -7th; Organic & Natural Farming to Be Centralized Theme

Continuing its tradition of serving and empowering the farming community of this region for the past six years, the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, is coming with another grand event, the '7th Technology Exhibition cum Seed Mela 2022, scheduled for March 6-7 with the theme of the year 'Organic and Natural Farming.'

The mega show, a unique event, will provide a platform for the farming community, farm women, youth, entrepreneurs, private players, NGOs, public representatives, policymakers, planners, students, technocrats, and all other relevant stakeholders involved in agriculture and allied sectors to learn, create, build, and establish new business opportunities.

The Exhibition cum Seed Mela, which is being organized under the dynamic leadership of Honorable Vice-Chancellor SKUAST-K Prof. Nazeer Ahmed Ganai and by Director Extension, SKUAST-K, is set to be inaugurated by Mr. Farooq Khan, Advisor to Honorable Lieutenant Governor, UT of Jammu Kashmir, Manoj Sinha. The following Mela events are being highlighted:

A ‘mela’ by all, for all, of all: The Mela will bring together all farmers, including those from Ladakh's UT, orchardists, mushroom growers, vegetable growers, floriculturists, livestock rearers, poultry farmers, aquaculturists, sericulturists, input dealers, various MNCs, farm machinery representatives, and members of the Jammu and Kashmir Kissan Board. All of them will be available for each other. The Mela will attract thousands of people, with the active involvement of all faculties, colleges, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, research institutions, and constituent units of the University in Kashmir and Ladakh.

Organic and natural farming: The Mela will focus on ‘Organic and Natural Farming’.

Given the global emphasis on natural and organic farming, as well as the country's Honorable Prime Minister's appeal to promote natural farming, this year's Technology Exhibition cum Seed Mela will place a special emphasis on technology, demonstrating organic inputs such as biofertilizers, biocontrol agents, bio-organic nutrient management, and organic waste treatment.

All such interventions/inputs will be available for purchase as well as a demonstration to the region's farming community. There will be tens of stalls solely dedicated to demonstrating and selling organic products.

Champion farmers: This event will draw attention to the region's innovative farmers, including farm women promoted by SKUAST-Kashmir, who have taken agriculture to new heights through the commercialization of various products or vertical or horizontal expansion of different technologies and are acting as agents of change. There will be a specific area for champion farmers hatched and supported by SKUAST-K to highlight their accomplishments and motivate rural and urban youth. One of the innovative champion farmers owns a 1.5 quintal sheep. This sheep will likewise be the center of attraction, and will only be for display.

Agri-startups: Due to the country's startup culture, in recent years, young people with degrees from prestigious universities such as Harvard and Michigan have left their overseas jobs, attractive placements, and have chosen to return and establish their ventures in various sectors such as seed production, floriculture, mushroom production, organic farming, and vermin compost.

An agri-startup stall will be present to encourage the startup culture, particularly among young agricultural graduates; this stall will exhibit innovative technologies and start-ups produced by young ignited minds.

Help desk: A special help desk has been created for the farming community of the region at the Mela.  They may come up with their respective queries at this help desk, which will be attended to/addressed on the spot by the concerned Subject Matter Specialists and experts of SKUAST-Kashmir.

Entrepreneurship: To encourage young people to start their businesses, the Technology Exhibition/Seed Mela should attract financial institutions such as NABARD. All of these organizations will showcase their various self-employment programs, and their representatives will meet with the farming community and youth. This would undoubtedly assist young people in taking advantage of numerous government schemes.

Food processing and value addition: We experience post-harvest losses of up to 33%. To avoid such losses, the country's rising sectors will be value addition and food processing. Unfortunately, the country has a relatively low rate of value addition and processing. Many indigenous crops, especially grains, grow in various sections of our region and are vital to our population's nutritional security. Many of these crops have been uncultivated and unprocessed throughout the years. This Mela will place a specific emphasis on this element, with several indigenous value-added food products on display.

Awards & Recognitions: The Mela will honor innovative farmers/farm women/young entrepreneurs/students who have made substantial and concrete contributions to society through various awards.

The event on March 6-7 will bring together traditional wisdom, current innovation, and science with the ultimate goal of benefiting the common environment and promoting a fair relationship and a quality of life for all of us.