Srinagar, Jan 12: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), in collaboration with HIL (India) Limited, on Monday organized an awareness programme on the safe and judicious use of pesticides and promotion of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices at the Shalimar Convention Centre, SKUAST-Kashmir. The event also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions for the joint implementation of the FARM Project (Fostering Agrochemical Reduction and Management) in Kashmir.
The programme saw enthusiastic participation from farmers, scientists, policymakers and other agricultural stakeholders from across the Valley.
Secretary (Chemicals & Petrochemicals), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, Nivedita Shukla Verma, IAS, attended the programme as the chief guest. The event was also attended by Additional Secretary (Agriculture), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, IAS; Director, Directorate of Extension and Dean, Faculty of Horticulture, SKUAST-K, Prof Raihana H. Kanth; Joint Secretary (Chemicals), DCPC, Deepankar Aron; Chairman and Managing Director, HIL (India) Limited, Kuldeep Singh; Registrar, SKUAST-K, Prof Azmat Alam Khan; Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Sartaj Ahmad Shah; Technical Advisor, UNIDO India, Yashpal Ramdev; and other senior officials.
The programme aimed to sensitise farmers about the judicious, safe and responsible use of pesticides, while promoting sustainable, environmentally sound and economically viable agricultural practices. A major highlight of the event was the launch of an IPM Compendium for regional vegetable crops, designed to serve as a practical reference for farmers and extension workers.
Addressing the gathering, Nivedita Shukla Verma underscored the importance of safe and regulated pesticide use to ensure agricultural sustainability and food safety. She appreciated the collaborative efforts of HIL (India) Limited and SKUAST-K, stressing that farmer training, IPM adoption and sustained awareness are critical to reducing pesticide misuse.
Prof Raihana H. Kanth highlighted SKUAST-K’s vision and farmer-centric mandate, emphasizing the University’s role in promoting sustainable and scientific agriculture through extension and capacity-building initiatives. She advocated judicious agrochemical use and IPM practices to safeguard soil health, the environment and human health.
Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Sartaj Ahmad Shah called for crop-specific and scientific pesticide use, urging farmers to follow advisories, adopt IPM practices and make effective use of government schemes to enhance productivity while ensuring environmental safety.
Registrar SKUAST-K, Prof Azmat Alam Khan, reiterated the University’s commitment to strengthening research–extension linkages and fostering collaborations focused on farmer empowerment and sustainable agricultural development. He noted that SKUAST-K has undertaken several projects under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) aimed at judicious agrochemical use, integrated pest management and eco-friendly alternatives for pest control.
The programme also featured technical sessions by subject-matter experts on safe pesticide use, soil health, IPM practices for vegetable crops, crop-specific pest identification and management, and government financial schemes for farmers. The interactive sessions enabled participants to gain practical insights and address field-level challenges.
Around 500 farmers from different districts of Kashmir participated in the programme, reflecting the extensive outreach and relevance of the initiative.
