Gurez, Jul 14: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering tribal women, reducing farm drudgery and promoting farmer-centric technologies during a three-day outreach visit to Gurez by Director Extension, Prof. Raihana Habib Kanth.
During the visit, Prof. Kanth interacted with farmers, women cultivators and aspiring agri-entrepreneurs in Bagtore, Gurez and Tulail, besides reviewing frontline demonstrations (FLDs) and on-farm trials (OFTs) being implemented by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Gurez for the 2026-27 agricultural season.
She reviewed the performance of the wheat variety SW-03 introduced under the National Seed Project (NSP), which now covers more than 70 hectares and benefits nearly 700 farming families across Gurez and Tulail, including the remote village of Chakwali. She also inspected the Potato Seed Village at Badugam, the Maize Village at Tarbal and the Buckwheat Seed Village at Dangan to assess crop performance and farmer adoption.
Prof. Kanth said that under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, SKUAST-K is working to revive traditional crops while promoting climate-resilient and location-specific technologies to enhance farm productivity, diversify livelihoods and improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal farming communities. She commended KVK Gurez for effectively implementing extension programmes and achieving tangible outcomes at the grassroots level.
Referring to the United Nations’ declaration of 2026 as the International Year of the Women Farmer, she said the university is strengthening its focus on women-centric interventions by promoting drudgery-reducing technologies, encouraging greater participation of women in agricultural decision-making and expanding livelihood opportunities.
As part of the outreach programme, agricultural inputs were distributed free of cost under the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP-ICAR) to 50 tribal farming families, the majority of them women farmers from the remote Banjran area of Bagtore block.
Farmers appreciated the support extended by KVK Gurez and SKUAST-K, saying the university’s interventions have helped strengthen agricultural practices and improve livelihood opportunities in the border region.
