The Annual Group meeting of All India Coordinated Research Project on Agroforestry was inaugurated by Dr Javed Rizvi, Regional Director South Asia Programme, World Agroforestry Center, which is headquartered at New Delhi on 25 July 2015 at Nund Reshi Convention center SKUAST-K, Shalimar,Seventy one participants from different parts of the country are to participate in the national event under 37 centres. Prof. K N Qaisar, Dean Faculty of Forestry welcomed the guests and highlighted the programme of AICRP-Agroforestry. It is dream come true that this event is being organized in our university, as we are a part of AICRP-Agroforestry for last 30 year, and we are lucky enough to organize it this time in our university.Prof. Shafiq A Wani, Director Research, SKUAST-K deliberated upon the importance of Agroforestry Systems in the valley context. This land use system has the potential to bridge the gap between demand and supply of fodder, fuel wood and timber.
He requested the dignitaries for generous funding for the upcoming Forestry faculty at Benhama Ganderbal.Dr. S. K. Dhyani, former Director CAFRI, presently heading NRM Division, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, presented Coordinator’s report. Dr Dhyani appreciated the efforts of the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Dr Tej Pratap for world class infra structure at Shalimar and other campii. Two more centers are being added one at Simouga and another at SKUAST-J in the AICRP group. Country is fortunate enough that National Mission on Agroforestry is being launched very soon. Silvipasture Systems and boundary plantations need to be promoted and one third of the land should be put under the fodder for the livestock and the remaining under AF Systems.
Dr. S Thiliagar, Vice Chancellor Tamil Nadu University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Chenai gave the remarks about the group meeting. He applauded the scientific community and asked them to work for farming community so that they can live in a sustainable way.Several books were released on the occasion which includes, Manual on Plantation Forestry, Important trees of Kashmir valley, Research Abstracts of Faculty of Forestry and Agroforestry system in Tamil Nadu. One book in Marathi was also released.Tej-Wani Award on AF Research and Development was announced and was conferred upon Dr A Arunachalam and Dr Rajinderan. A cash award of Rs 10,000 and a citation was given to the Scientists.Chief Guest, Dr Javed Rizvi, stressed that India should be used as technological hub and help neighbouring countries and people in need. He announced that Regional consultation meeting is going to be held in October this year and he invited the scientists to take part in the meeting. It will not be a traditional meeting but there will be hot discussions and one to one meetings and brain storming sessions will be multi disciplinary and all the streams will be involved.
Dr. Tej Pratap Vice chancellor delivered the presidential address and exhorted upon the scientists to work for the farming community in the state.Dr A H Mughal, Organizing Secretary, of the programme thanked all the dignitaries and the participant scientists who came from different parts of the country for participation in the event. Dr Mughal said that we are happy today as the term of Hon’ble V.C has been extended and we thank the Government authorities for timely decision. He thanked Dean and members of Faculty of Forestry for their help and support without which it was impossible to conduct such a national event. He also thanked press and media for their coverage.