Srinagar : Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) Wednesday inaugurated a specialised 37-day skill training program focused on the “Repair and Overhauling of Stationery Engines and Power Tillers.”
The comprehensive training session was inaugurated by Prof Rehaina Habib Kanth, Director Extension at SKUAST-K, at the College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology. The event was attended by high-ranking university officials, including the Registrar, Associate Dean, heads of various divisions, and senior faculty members.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) project, the program is being organized by the Farm Machinery Testing Centre, Division of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, SKUAST-K. The initiative has successfully drawn 30 rural youths from across the Kashmir valley, all eager to acquire technical expertise in agricultural mechanization.
Addressing the trainees as the Chief Guest, Prof Rehaina Habib Kanth emphasized that the program is more than just a technical course, it is a gateway to financial independence.
Prof Azmat Alam, Registrar of SKUAST-K, further highlighted how a skilled workforce serves as the backbone of a successful entrepreneurial ecosystem. He spoke extensively on the pressing need for technical manpower in the remote areas of the valley, where the ability to repair engines and agricultural machinery can provide essential services to farmers while securing a stable livelihood for the service providers. He also noted that the program aligns with the NEP-2020 curriculum, which prioritizes vocational skilling alongside traditional education.
The Training Coordinator and Head of the Division (FMPE), Prof Jagvir Dixit, provided an overview of the 250-hour curriculum. He explained the critical importance of scheduled maintenance and overhauling in extending the life of farm equipment. Adding to this, Prof Rohitashw Kumar, Associate Dean of COAE&T, stressed that these sessions benefit both the individual participants and the overall productivity of the regional agricultural sector.
