Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, Main Campus, Chatha, Jammu

Name of the University: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, Main Campus, Chatha, Jammu

Year of Establishment: September, 1999

Mission:
The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu aspires to become a leading Agricultural University in India with the mandate of serving the people of Jammu division, the U.T. and the Nation

Goals and Objectives

• Advancement of education in Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Sciences and other allied sectors.
• Conduct basic,strategic and applied research in agriculture and allied sectors.
• Dissemination of knowledge and technology to the farming community.
• Collaboratewith National and International organizations for enhancing the knowledge expertise and excellence for the well-being of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in particular and the country in general.

SKUAST-Jammu has mandate to cater to the needs of the farming community falling under the territorial jurisdiction of Jammu province. The area comprises of following agro-climatic zones:

• Sub- Tropical Zone: Kathua, Samba, Jammu, part of Udhampur and Rajouri.
• Intermediate Zone: Parts of Rajouri, Udhampur, Poonch, Ramban and Kathua.
• Temperate Zone: Parts of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Ramban and Kishtwar.

Educational Programmes Offered (PG/UG/Ph. D/Diploma):

UG Programme

• B.V.Sc. & AH
• B.Sc.(Hons.) Agriculture
• B. Tech. Biotechnology

PG Programme (Agriculture)

• Agricultural Economics
• Agricultural Extension & Communication
• Agronomy
• Biotechnology
• Entomology
• Horticulture (Floriculture & Landscaping)
• Food Science & Technology
• Forestry
• Fruit Science
• Genetics & Plant Breeding
• Plant Pathology
• Sericulture
• Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry
• Horticulture (Vegetable Science)
• M.Tech. Farm Machinery & Power Engineering
• MBA Agri-Business
• M.Tech. Soil & Water Engineering

Basic Science

• Biochemistry
• Statistics
• Microbiology
• Plant Physiology

PG programme (Vety.)

• Animal Genetics & Breeding
• Animal Nutrition
• Livestock Production Management
• Livestock Products Technology
• Veterinary Anatomy
• Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education
• Veterinary Gynaecology & Obstetrics
• Veterinary Medicine
• Veterinary Microbiology
• Veterinary Parasitology
• Veterinary Pathology
• Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Veterinary Physiology
• Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology
• Veterinary Surgery & Radiology
• Veterinary Biochemistry

Ph.D Ag. & Allied Sciences

• Agricultural Economics
• Agricultural Extension & Communication
• Agronomy
• Biotechnology
• Entomology
• Food Science & Technology
• Agroforestry
• Fruit Science
• Genetics & Plant Breeding
• Plant Pathology
• Sericulture
• Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry
• Vegetable Sciences
• Agricultural Engineering/Farm Machinery
• Floriculture and Landscaping
• Agri-Business Management

Basic Science

• Biochemistry
• Statistics
• Microbiology
• Plant Physiology

Ph.D. (Vety.)

• Animal Genetics & Breeding
• Animal Nutrition
• Livestock Production & Management
• Livestock Products Technology
• Veterinary Anatomy
• Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education
• Veterinary Gynaecology & Obstetrics
• Veterinary Medicine
• Veterinary Microbiology
• Veterinary Parasitology
• Veterinary Pathology
• Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Veterinary Physiology
• Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology
• Veterinary Surgery & Radiology
• Veterinary Biochemistry

Certificate courses

• Diploma in Agriculture
• Diploma in Horticulture

Highlights of Research Activities:

• Directorate of research has mandate of carrying basic and applied research with focus on identification of researchable issues related to the socio economic development of farming community of Jammu and Kashmir.
• At present 96 research projects amounting to Rs. 45.5 crores are in operation funded by 25 funding agencies mainly ICAR,DBT, DST, NABARD etc.
• Varieties developed-41
  • Rice : 09
  • Wheat : 05
  • Maize : 02
  • Oilseeds : 08
  • Pulses : 05
  • Fruit crops : 03
  • Vegetables : 09
• Twelve recent released varieties (2020-21) include three Basmati game changer varieties namely Jammu Basmati-118, Jammu Basmati-123 and Jammu Basmati-138; Yield advantage- 25-35% with reduced duration by about 20 days, major economic booster for the Basmati growers and first ever Pecan nut variety SKJPP-25.
• Developed more than 100 technologies in agriculture, Horticulture and veterinary sciences with commercial focus on Integrated farming system for irrigated areas, Apiculture, sericulture, mushroom cultivation and spawn production
• High density orchards in guava, mango and citrus;
• Promotion of Nano fertilizers,
• A model of 1.0 ha Integrated Farming Systems with suitable components for irrigated system which generates Rs. 3.05 lakh profit in a year almost three times the normal farmer’s income.
• Area specific multi-nutrients animal feed blocks, Diagnostic kit for control of warble fly developed. Goat breed (Bakarwali) registered with Govt. of India.

Highlights of Extension Activities:

Extension education is one of the most important mandates of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and technology of Jammu. The Directorate of Extension popularly known as the “Field Extension Wing” is taking care of the farm advisory services in the villages surrounding the main campus of the University and at different districts through Krishi Vigyan Kendras. The responsibility for planning, organizing, conducting and coordinating the extension activities of the University in Jammu region of Jammu & Kashmir State lies with the Directorate of Extension. Its main aim is to transfer the proven/tested technologies to the farmers, livestock owners, rural youth, field staff of State Govt. and other personnel engaged in developmental and professional activities in the fields of agriculture, animal /sheep husbandry, horticulture, floriculture, sericulture, fisheries home science and other associated areas through its well planned, skill-oriented and need based programmes. The Directorate acts as bridge between the research scientists and field functionaries, farmers and other stakeholders to provide feedback.

Activities

Zonal Research & Extension Advisory Committee (ZREAC) Meetings
The Zonal Research and Extension Advisory Committee (ZREAC) meetings for both kharif and rabi seasons are being organized by the directorate in which recommendations on proven technologies generated by research wing of the University are discussed with the state line departments for further dissemination to the farmers

Extension Education Council Meetings

The Directorate of Extension organizes Extension Council Meetings of SKUAST-Jammu in order to work out the plan for effective dissemination of technologies at district levels.

Workshops/Conferences/Seminars

The Directorate of Extension organizes workshops, conferences and seminars on current relevant topics in the field of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and allied sciences.

University Level Workshop of KVKs

Every year a ‘One day University Level Workshop’ of all Krishi Vigyan Kendras under SKUAST-J is organized at the University Head Quarter in which Heads of the divisions from all faculties and scientific staff of all KVKs participate. The workshop provides a platform to interact on the technology generation, refinement and dissemination and to deliberate upon the proven technologies generated through research for dissemination through FLDs with farmers participation, assessment of generated technologies and their refinement for location specificity at KVK level as On Farm Trials (OFTs).

KisanMelas

The Directorate of Extension organizes KisanMelas in March and October regularly in the University for demonstration of latest technology and technical know-how in agriculture and allied sciences. Besides, the directorate demonstrates the technologies of SKUAST-Jammu in melas organized by different national level institutes of the country.

Monthly Officers’ Workshops

Monthly Officer's Workshops are planned every year with the departments of Agriculture and Horticulture in each district of Jammu province on scheduled dates for affecting close coordination of the extension activities of the University with concerned state departments, In these meetings, Monthly messages compiled crop-wise on the basis of calendar of operations are discussed which are to be conducted in various fields

Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) Meetings

The Directorate of Extension organizes Scientific Advisory Committee Meetings of different Krishi Vigyan Kendras under its administrative control in which their progress is reviewed and action plans are finalized in consultation with district heads of agriculture and other line departments as well as progressive farmers/farm women.

Technological backstopping of KVKs

The Directorate is organizing capacity building programmes for scientific staff of all KVKs for providing technological backstopping. Every year, three to four such training programmes are being organised by the directorate.

Number of KVKs

• Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tehsil R.S. Pura, District Jammu-181 102 (1st May 1993)
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Village Tandwal, District Rajouri-185 131 (13th. Nov. 2002)
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tehsil Bhaderwah, District Doda - 182 221 (31st Dec. 2002)
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra, QaziMorha, District Poonch -185 101 (March 2007)
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Village Tanda, Tehsil Reasi District Reasi - 182 101 (Nov. 2005)
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Village Rajhani, District Kathua - 184 101 (07th Jan 2008)
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Village Arazi, Tehsil & District Samba - 184 121 (04th Dec., 2016)
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Village Dadh Peth , Tehsil-Mughal Maidan, DistrictKishtwar-182204 (KVK Kishtwar has been sanctioned and MoU signed between SKUAST-J & ICAR for its establishment)
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra, VillageDalwas,Tehsil &District Ramban-182144 (All the relevant papers have been sent to ICAR)

Training Programmes

Farmers’ Training Programmes

KVKs of SKUAST-Jammu are organizing training programmes for farmers/farm women as per the needs and requirements of the targeted clients in order to bring a visible change in the behavior and attitude of the farmers towards adoption of new technologies related to agriculture; increase in both production and productivity of agricultural crops and animal husbandry;

Vocational Training Programmes

KVKs are organizing long-term vocational training courses in agriculture and allied sectors for the rural youths with emphasis on "learning by doing” for generating self-employment through institutional financing. Vocational trainings open the opportunities for rural youth of far-flung areas to establish their own income generating units of Poultry, Floriculture, Mushroom production, aromatic and medicinal plants, Dairy, Bee-keeping, Home making products etc.

Training Programmes for Extension Personnel

KVKs organize short term trainings based on the requirements of the field functionaries of agriculture and line departmentsto refresh and update their knowledge within the area of operation with emerging advances in agricultural research on regular basis.

On-Farm Trials

KVKs organize On-farm testing for identifying technologies in terms of location specific sustainable land use systems in agriculture and allied sectors.

Front Line demonstrations

KVKs organize front-line demonstrations in various crops to generate production data and feedback information and to demonstrate the latest agricultural technologies to the farmers as well as extension workers of State Departments of Agriculture/Horticulture/ Fishery/ Animal Science/ NGOs with a view to reduce the time lag between the technology generation and its adoption.

Other Extension Activities

All the 07 existing KVKs in different districts are conducting regular field cum diagnostic visits, clinical camps, Kisanghoshties, demonstrations, Awareness programmes cum campaigns, KisanMelas, Celebration of important days, Exposure visits of farmers/farm women, Radio talks, Farmers-Scientist interactions, Publication of extension literature etc. to raise awareness among the farmers regarding improved practices in agriculture, horticulture, animal care and diversification. Apart from creating awareness on existing technologies in agriculture, allied occupations like bee keeping, mushroom cultivation, back yard poultry etc. are also being promoted, especially among farm women and rural youth, as an alternate source of income.

Certificate Courses etc.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra Jammu, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Kathua,Krishi Vigyan Kendra Rajouri, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Reasi, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Samba of SKUAST-Jammu have been recognized as Training Centres for Skill Development Programmes of 200 hrs. duration eachby Agriculture Skill Council of India, New Delhi. All the Seven KVKs have been organizing 15 days Certificate Courses on Integrated Nutrient Management for input dealers in their domain areas.

Strength of the University:

Teaching at UG and PG levels in the University has been going on since its inception in 1999. Not only the existing teaching programmes of erstwhile SKUAST-JK were continued, but some new programmes have also been started in various disciplines of Agriculture, Veterinary Sciences, Basic Sciences and Biotechnology. Since its establishment, the University has grown at a very rapid rate. Presently, the University has three faculties, namely Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry and Faculty of Basic Sciences, offering three undergraduate programmes i.e.,BSc (Hons) Agriculture, B.Tech. Biotechnology, and BVSc & AH.The University is offering Masters Programmes in 37 disciplines (17 in Agricultural Sciences, 04 in Basic Sciences and 16 in Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry). The Doctorate programme is offered in 36 disciplines (16 in Agricultural Sciences, 16 in Veterinary Sciences and 04 in Basic Sciences).The admissions for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are made through entrance tests conducted by the university. University have received many research projects from different funding agencies like ICAR, DST, DBT, etc. The faculty members are encouraged to attend national and International seminars and symposia, besides facilitating seminars symposia and winter/summer schools. The teachers of this University publish their research papers both in the national and the International journals of repute. Some of faculty members have exposure of internationals institutions of repute. This is because of University’s policy to help the faculty to go for academic visits to foreign countries. This also provides opportunities to the faculty to collaborate their research endeavours with foreign collaborators. This has helped in furthering the scientific repute of the University.

The University has made rapid progress in development of infrastructural facilities. There are four hostels, 2 each for boys and girls, in the University with facilities for indoor entertainment. Hostels provide Opportunity to Students to inter-mingle with each other and adapt to multi-ethnic, multilingual and multicultural environment. The University organizes inter-class; annual sports tournaments in its faculties and at University level. Moreover, students of the University also participate regularly in the inter-varsity youth festivals and have achieved distinction in various curricular activities at various levels. The University also has a medical centre, which provides medical facilities to staff and students. Clinical laboratory is equipped with automated equipments. Free of costs medicines are also provided to the students. The University made accidental and health insurance coverage compulsory for all the students.

The classrooms are well ventilated. The undergraduate as well as post-graduate laboratories in the divisions are well equipped in all the faculties. Almost each division has been provided with laptops/computers and LCD projectors, exclusively for classroom teaching, class seminars and credit seminars etc. University is also developed smart classroom facilities in all faculties. The University has sufficient farm area at its campuses and research stations to conduct undergraduate practical’s and PG research trials. The University has its own data centre, which provides LAN services to different divisions and offices. It provides Internet, email and data transfer services to staff and students. This facilitates the connectivity and literature scanning besides transfer and retrieval of data. Most of the area in Jammu region is rainfed and kandi, and rainfall is scanty which provides an opportunity to research on technologies/ practices suitable for rainfed and kandi areas, which is the recent focus of research in India to usher the green revolution in dry land area. In addition to rainfed ecosystem, a large area of Jammu division is temperate with potential for exploitation of cash crops of horticultural origin.

A large area in Chenab valley is highly suitable for production of high value crops like walnut, kalazera, saffron, kivi, pecan etc. The Jammu division is rich in germplasm of many medicinal species like Hard (Terminalia chebuld), Bahera (Terminalia bellirica), Jamum (Syzygium cumini), Oroxylumrfelory lily (Gloriosa superba), Podophyllum, Chilgoza (Finns gerardiana) in Paddar area, Timuru(Zanthoxylum alatum), Banafsa (Viola sorpens), Seski (Artemisia brevifolia), Kutha (Saussuria lappa). Therefore, it has a great potential to research and exploit these resources for human and animal welfare, with good returns to the farming community.

The University has its Directorate of Extension which works through KVKs and teaching and scientific staff of the University. There exists a dynamic interface between farmers, scientists and staff of the line departments to identify and address the local and area specific problems in agricultural sector. In the University statutory bodies, there is representation of 137 officers of line departments of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, sheep husbandry and fisheries to interact formally with scientists and co-operate in extending university generated technologies to farmers and bring back their problems to University for solutions. The data generated by the functionaries of line department on University generated technologies help to fine tune or re-orient the technology, if required. University also organizes Kisan Melas, awareness camps, Kisan Ghoshties and training programmes for benefit of the farmers. With the given topography and less use of the chemicals in agriculture in most part of Jammu region, there is a very good scope for organic agriculture. Jammu region has a vast area under natural pasture and grazing lands, therefore, enhancing the livestock production and productivity is encouragingly possible. There also exist a good scope for fisheries, as the region is endowed with two big river systems and large dams on Chenab and Ravi. Animal biodiversity of the state especially the Nili-Ravi variant of buffalo are endemic to this area of the country.

Niche Area of Excellence: Not Applicable

Status of Autonomy : Autonomous body

Funding Support received in 2020-21

• J&K State (Plan/CAPEX) : 2215.00
• J&K State (Non-Plan) : 12330.00
• ICAR Dev. Grants : 411.17
• AICRP Schemes : 939.24
• Adhoc Research Projects : 707.85

Faculty Position :

• Sanctioned : 355
• In position : 253
• Vacant : 102

Student intake :

• UG : 822
• PG : 296
• Ph.D. : 170

Contact Details