STATE TIMES NEWS JAMMU: Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-J, Prof. J.P Sharma on Wednesday chaired a meeting to discuss the roadmap for ‘Soil and water conservation in rainfed areas of Jammu region’ at Chatha, here on Wednesday involving directors and officers of the line departments and concerned scientists of the university. Dr. Pardeep Wali, Director Research welcomed and introduced all the participants. Dr. R.K. Srivastava, Associate Professor made a power point presentation of his work done on the Water Conservation Technologies in kandi areas of Jammu region under his DST-seed project. Ram Savak, Director Horticulture, appreciated the work done by the scientists and success obtained by the farmers for enhancing their farming income besides recharging of ponds and enriching the soil moisture through such technologies. Rajinder Singh, Director Command Area Development, desired to visit the project sites along officers and the concerned scientists of the project to have an on-farm experience of the technologies implemented for their further replication. Chief Horticulture Officer, Jammu Sarabjit Singh informed that the existing rate of subsidies to the farmers under Government Schemes are very low and needs revision for their proper implementation. Prof. J.P Sharma asked the officers and scientists for mapping of the suitable regions and crops for implementation of the technologies and to prepare a DPR for popularization of the same through convergence mode by involving Agriculture, Horticulture, Rural Development and other concerned departments. Dr. Sushil Sharma, Prof. & Head, Agricultural Engineering proposed community as well as individual water harvesting tanks depending upon the requirements and topography of the region and land holding of the farmers. Ram Savak proposed that each department may take the development in 50 hectares area initially through convergence mode and replicate further. Prof. J.P. Sharma, Vice Chancellor directed the officers to prepare the DPR as per the suggestions proposed in the meeting to discuss further with the higher authorities for its successful implementation for the benefit of farming community of rainfed areas of Jammu region. Other scientists and officers of the line departments who were present in the meeting included Dr. Vijay Bharti, Senior Scientist, WMRC; Dr. Sushmita Dadhich, Assistant Prof., Ag. Engg.; Arvind Baru, Chief Agriculture Officer, Jammu; Kuldeep Singh, SCA, CAD; Parveen Nagar, Project Officer, SWM, CAD; Mukesh Khajuria, Project Officer, CAD; Chander Shekhar, Ag. Asstt. CAD; Pradeep K. Sharma, SMS; Narinder Singh, SCA CAD and Sh. Vivek Mahajan, SCA CAD. Dr. Mahital Jamwal, Deputy Director Research and meeting Rapporteur presented vote of thanks.
