SKUAST-K aims for global recognition by 2030: VC

Srinagar, Nov 11: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) Vice-Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai on Wednesday said the university’s national ranking among State Agricultural Universities had improved from 37th in 2019 to third in 2025, while outlining its achievements and Vision 2030 roadmap.
Speaking at Meet the Press programme at the university’s Shalimar campus, Prof Ganai shared details of developments in agricultural education, research, innovation, extension services and rural development.
He said the university had expanded its undergraduate programmes from four to 15, while overall student enrolment had increased from 2,100 to over 5,900. Undergraduate enrolment had also doubled from 450 to more than 900, he said.
On research and innovation, the Vice-Chancellor said SKUAST-K had secured more than 146 patents in four years and established over 20 Centres of Excellence. The university had also facilitated 126 student and faculty startups and launched 62 products, he said.
Highlighting its outreach activities, Prof Ganai said more than 2,000 Kisan Khidmat Ghars had been established at district and panchayat levels to strengthen services for farmers.
Under the Student Rural Entrepreneurship Programme, over 4,000 students had been engaged, while more than 350 villages had been adopted for a period of ten years, he said.
Referring to the university’s role in agricultural development, he highlighted the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme, with an outlay of Rs 5,013 crore, and the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement Project, involving initiatives worth over Rs 1,800 crore.
He said the two programmes envisaged upskilling 2.5 lakh people across Jammu and Kashmir over five years and establishing more than 18,000 agri-entrepreneurs.
Outlining Vision 2030, Prof Ganai said the university aimed to move from regional excellence towards global recognition, with focus on agricultural education, research-led innovation, technology transfer, entrepreneurship and rural development.
During the programme, the university also released its Draft Institutional Media, Communication and Social Media Policy, aimed at providing a framework for institutional communication.
Media representatives interacted with the Vice-Chancellor on the university’s achievements, institutional priorities and future plans.
Nasir Ahmad Dar, Coordinator, Directorate of Internal Quality Assurance (DIQA), presided over the proceedings. (KNS)