Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu calls for enhancing seed replacement rate

Jammu : Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu, Prof J P Sharma today called for enhancing the seed replacement rate for better farm income.

Addressing the stakeholders, after initiating farmers’ participatory seed Production Programme, here at Jhinder Mellu, he said the enhancement of seed replacement rate is an ultimate bench mark for doubling the farmers’ income.

Dr Sharma further suggested the adoption of enterprises viz., Bee Keeping, Mushroom, vermicompost, fisheries, floriculture for enhancing income and making a shift from production to profitability.

Director Research SKUAST-Jammu, Dr R K Gupta, briefed about the mandate of farmers’ participatory seed production and its role in seed replacement rate with special reference to newly released Wheat varieties. He highlighted the role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra in horizontal dissemination of university technologies in Jammu region. The Programme was organized by Mega Seed Project (ICAR) SKUAST-Jammu in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jammu.

At the outset, Dr Ambrish Vaid, Nodal Officer Mega Seed Project welcomed the Chief guest, Guest of Honours and participating farmers in the programme. He elaborated that the farmers’ participatory seed production programme has been started first time in Jammu region by farm University and also discussed the quality seed production and its contribution towards increasing farm productivity by 20-25 per cent.

Sr Scientist and Head KVK Jammu, Dr Punit Choudhary, stressed upon the importance of using quality seed and integrating tree components in agriculture for supplementing the farm income and soil health.

A technical programme including production, certification and safe storage of seed by Dr Vishal Raina, Dr Amitesh Sharma, Dr Magdeshwar Sharma (Scientist of SKUAST-J) and farmers interaction Session under the coordination of Sham Gorkhawas was also organized on the occasion.