Jammu : A seven day partially self financed training programme on “Recent advances in Microbial Diagnostics” was inaugurated Tuesday by Prof. J. P. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu and the Chief Guest of the inaugural event here on Tuesday.
The specialized training is being attended by 29 participants covering Jammu and Kashmir and neighbouring states of the country.
Prof. J. P. Sharma, in his address, highlighted the importance of Microbial studies in the present era. Prof Sharma said that the training programme seems to be multi institutional and multi disciplinary which will definitely make the programme more successful. He further added that the time is now to become job provider and not job seeker and the Central Government is also promoting entrepreneurial and start-up culture at National level to achieve the target of self-employment.
The Vice Chancellor was of the opinion that the study of microbes can change the future of human health and therefore, suggested the participants come up with startup ideas in Microbial and genomic research after the completion of the training programme.
Prof Sharma ensures that SKUAST-Jammu will provide all possible support to the interested candidate as SKUAST-Jammu is already running Incubation Centre under RKVY-RAFTAAR scheme of Govt of India where in trainings are provided to start ups and there is also a provision of grant in aid ranging between 1 lakh to 25 lakhs depending upon type and phase of startup.
Prof. Sharma also talked and discussed the importance of Natural Farming, diversification and minimum support price in increasing income of farmers. He desired that natural and organic farming must be promoted and farmers should be made aware about its benefits and higher remunerations that can be achieved from it.
The programme is being organized in a collaboration mode by different units of SKUAST-Jammu viz., Division of MIcrobiology, Division of Plant Pathology and Biocontrol Laboratory, ACHR, Udheywalla. Earlier, Prof. PradeepWali, Convener and Director Research welcomed the Chief Guest of the programme and other dignitaries. He appreciated the Course Director(s) for taking initiative to organize such an important training programme which is beneficial for students, faculty and department people. Brief introduction as well as purpose of training programme and list of topics to be covered during the training programme was given by Dr Vishal Gupta, Course Director. Participants attending the training introduced themselves and also shared their purpose to attend the same. The function was attended by Prof. PradeepWali Director Research, Prof. JyotiKachroo, Director (P&M), Prof. R.K. Nanda Director Education, Prof. A.K. Mondal, Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. S.E.H. Rizvi (Co-Convener), Dean FBSc, Prof. S. K. Gupta, Registrar cum Dea, Faculty of Horticulture and Forestry, Prof. Sushil Sharma, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, MadanLal, Comptroller, SohanLal, Joint Comptroller, Iqbal Singh, Prof. AmrishVaid, Co-Convener, Dr. Brijeshwar Singh, Course Director and various Heads of Divisions, faculty members and resource persons.
The proceedings of the function were conducted by Dr. Vishal Gupta, Course Director and Associate Professor, Division of Plant Pathology. At the end formal vote of thanks was presented by Co-Convener, Dr. S. E. H. Rizvi.
