Srinagar, Jan 2: Vice-Chancellor SKUAST-K Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganie on Friday chaired the 42nd Standing Evaluation Committee (SEC) meeting of SKUAST-K at Shalimar.
The meeting witnessed participation from various line departments, including Agriculture, Horticulture, Law Enforcement agencies, and progressive nursery growers. Addressing the gathering, Prof Ganie emphasised the university’s commitment towards adopting an integrated pest, disease, and nutrient management strategy for orchards across Kashmir.
He also highlighted the urgent need for a data-driven decision support system to enable real-time monitoring of pests and diseases.
Director Research, Prof Haroon Rashid Naik, stressed the importance of eco-friendly pest and disease management approaches as a sustainable and viable option in the present-day scenario.
Professor Directorate of Research, Irfan Bisati, presented the Action Taken Report of previous meetings and outlined the future course of action.
Officers from different line departments held detailed deliberations on resistance management strategies for major pests and diseases, focusing on integrated approaches and pesticide rotation. Representatives from various divisions of SKUAST-K, including Plant Pathology, Entomology, Fruit Science, and Agricultural Economics, presented updates on different molecules currently under evaluation.
The committee also recommended the issuance of the Plant Health guide for the year 2026-27.