EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, March 1: Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu, Prof J. P. Sharma released a book on “Agribusiness Development Planning and Management” at SKUAST-Jammu, Chatha during valedictory function of two days long Innovative Farmers Conference on “Farmer Led Innovations for Enhancing Farm Income”. Padma Shree Bharat Bhushan Tyagi, Padma Shree Sultan Singh and Statutory officers of the University were also present during the book release function. The book is authored and edited by Dr Anil Bhat, Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics and Prof. Jyoti Kachroo Head, Division of Agricultural Economics and ABM. Prof Sharma while congratulating the Editors advocated that Agribusiness and entrepreneurship is playing an important role in the elevation of the agricultural sector and its various stakeholders. He further said that there is immense potential of agribusiness startups in the areas of establishment of cold storages, cold chain facilities, medicinal and aromatic plants, post-harvest management, organic farming, packaging, branding and marketing of niche crops like Kalazeera, Basmati, Rajmash, Anardana and Kalari. Other potential areas which offer scope of agribusiness are fisheries, dairy, apiculture, hydroponics, agri-tourism, vertical farming and floriculture. Editor of the book, Dr Anil Bhat said that the book is quite valuable for the researchers, policy makers and administrators in generating awareness about the emergence of agribusiness markets for the farmers in India. Prof Jyoti Kachroo, Editor of the book gave a detailed report about the work mentioned in the book and emphasized that now the time is to look agriculture as a business study and courses in agriculture must be designed to nurture the next generation of agri-business technocrats, entrepreneurs and researchers |