Shalimar, Nov 11: The Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, today interacted with representatives of the print, electronic, digital and multimedia press at a Meet the Press programme held at the University’s Shalimar Campus, where he shared the University’s transformation journey and outlined its Vision 2030 roadmap. Nasir Ahmad Dar, Coordinator, DIQA, presided over the session’s proceedings. The programme provided an opportunity to discuss the University’s achievements, ongoing initiatives and future priorities, with Prof. Ganai presenting its progress across four pillars: Agri-Education, Research and Innovation, Extension and Outreach, and Social Development.
Highlighting progress in agricultural education, the Vice-Chancellor said the University’s national ranking among State Agricultural Universities had improved from 37th to 3rd between 2019 and 2025. Undergraduate programmes have increased from four to 15, and total student enrolment has grown from 2,100 to over 5,900. Undergraduate enrolment has doubled from 450 to over 900, while international applications rose from 200 to 450 between 2024 and 2026. On research and innovation, he said SKUAST-K has secured 146 patents in four years, the highest among State Agricultural Universities, and has ranked first in innovation among SAUs and universities in Jammu and Kashmir. He pointed to over 20 new Centres of Excellence, 126 student and faculty startups and 62 product launches as indicators of an expanding innovation ecosystem.
Outlining the Extension and Outreach Model, Prof. Ganai said over 2,000 Kisan Khidmat Ghars have been established at district and panchayat levels. Under the Student Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (SREP), over 4,000 students have been engaged and more than 350 villages adopted for ten years, strengthening the University’s engagement with farming communities. On the Social Development Model, he highlighted the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), with an outlay of Rs 5,013 crore, and the J&K Competitiveness Improvement Project (JKCIP), with initiatives worth over Rs 1,800 crore. Together, they envisage upskilling 2.5 lakh people across Jammu and Kashmir over five years and establishing more than 18,000 agri-entrepreneurs.
The Vice-Chancellor also outlined Vision 2030, which positions SKUAST-K’s journey from regional excellence towards global recognition, with emphasis on quality agricultural education, research-led innovation, technology transfer, entrepreneurship and inclusive rural development. The programme further featured the release of the University’s Draft Institutional Media, Communication and Social Media Policy, which provides a framework for accurate, transparent and coordinated institutional communication. An interactive session followed, during which media representatives discussed the University’s institutional priorities, achievements and future roadmap with the Vice-Chancellor.
The interaction reaffirmed SKUAST-K’s commitment to sustained engagement with the media and to taking its research, innovations and development initiatives to wider audiences.
