Srinagar, August 20, 2025 – Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo held comprehensive discussions with a delegation from the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, to advance Climate Smart Agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting, aimed at fostering sustainable farming practices, explored the establishment of the Himalayan Centre of Excellence for Dryland Agriculture at SKUAST-Kashmir.Led by Dr. Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General of ICRISAT, the delegation included Senior Scientists Dr. Manzoor Dar and Dr. Demaris Odeny, with Professor Haroon Naik, Director Research, SKUAST-Kashmir, also in attendance. The proposed Centre is envisioned as a pioneering hub for research, innovation, and technology dissemination tailored to the Himalayan region’s unique agro-ecological conditions.
Key focus areas of the Centre include developing climate-resilient crop varieties, strengthening decentralised seed systems, promoting regenerative farming, advancing dryland agriculture, and enhancing soil and water conservation. The initiative will also prioritize farmer-centric value chains to boost sustainable livelihoods across the Union Territory.A significant part of the discussions emphasised fodder security, critical for J&K’s livestock-dependent farming communities, particularly in hilly and rainfed areas.
The Chief Secretary was apprised of the need to strengthen fodder development programs to ensure year-round availability of quality fodder, which would enhance livestock productivity, nutritional security, and livelihood security for rural households.The Himalayan Centre of Excellence aims to integrate crop-livestock systems, advanced research, and farmer-focused innovations, fostering resilience against climate shocks and contributing to the long-term prosperity of J&K’s farming communities.
