Sopore : Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST-K, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganaie, on Wednesday conducted a comprehensive review visit to the Faculty of Agriculture following Prof. Najeeb Ul Rehman Sofi’s assumption of charge as the new Dean.
Accompanied by a high-level delegation of senior university officers and engineers, the Vice-Chancellor inspected ongoing infrastructure projects, reviewed academic and research initiatives, and held interactive sessions with newly admitted students and student representatives.
Upon arrival, the Vice-Chancellor and his delegation—comprising Director Extension Prof. Raihana Habib Kanth, Director Research Prof. Zameer Hussain, Director Planning & Monitoring Dr. Rohitash Kumar, Nodal Officer HADP/JKCIP Prof. H.R. Naik, Dean Horticulture Prof. Ashiq Hussain Pandith, and officers from the Estates Wing—were received by Dean FOA, Heads of Divisions, and students. On the occasion, the leadership team formally felicitated Prof. Sofi on taking over as Dean and wished him a productive tenure.
Welcoming the fresh batch of students, Prof. Ganaie highlighted the university’s commitment to holistic development, emphasizing that SKUAST-K provides a strong environment where students are mentored, nurtured, and equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to tackle real-world challenges.
Addressing recruitment-related concerns raised by the Students’ Council and class representatives, the Vice-Chancellor reassured the student body that the matter has been formally taken up with the Government and remains under active consideration. He urged the students to maintain patience and refrain from resorting to candlelight marches and protests while the matter remains under consideration of the Govet expressing hope for a constructive resolution through the appropriate channels.
During the physical inspection of major ongoing projects, Prof. Ganaie reviewed the state-of-the-art auditorium and directed the Estates Wing to strictly complete all remaining works by November 15, 2026, without compromising on quality standards. Inspecting the residential block construction sites, he instructed contractors to scale up manpower and machinery, emphasizing seamless coordination between the engineering team and contractors to resolve bottlenecks and prevent delays.
Prof. Ganaie also lauded the faculty’s academic and agricultural output, particularly commending the timely sowing of Rabi trials and extensive seed production programs for oilseeds, oats, and key crops to bolster the university’s research and extension mandate.
