 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 29: Scientists of SKUAST-Jammu (Prof. Vikas Sharma, Prof. Vivak M Arya, Prof. Anil Bhat), under the dynamic leadership of Prof. B. N. Tripathi, Vice Chancellor, brought laurels to the university by being conferred the prestigious IES Fellowship Award during the inaugural session of the three-day National Conference on "Sustainable & Climate Resilient Agroecosystems: Innovations and Policy Framework," which commenced today at Baba Jitto Auditorium, Main Campus, Chatha. The conference is being organized by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu in collaboration with the Indian Ecological Society, Jammu and Kashmir Chapters. The award was presented by Prof. B. N. Tripathi, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu, in the presence of Prof. A. K. Dhawan, President, IES; Prof. Anjani Kumar, IFPRI, New Delhi; Prof. S. K. Gupta, Director Research and Prof. Rajinder Peshin, former Director Education, SKUAST-Jammu. It is pertinent to mention that the inaugural session was graced and inaugurated by Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Shri Manoj Sinha Ji, as Chief Guest, with Shri Satish Sharma Ji, Hon'ble Minister for Science & Technology, Information Technology, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Transport, Government of J&K, and Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General IMD, New Delhi, as Guests of Honour. Prof. Vikas Sharma is Head, Division of Soil Science and Agril. Chem. He was a Raman Fellow at West Virginia University, USA and has been a visiting Professor at Auburn University, USA. He has contributed immensely to sustainable agriculture and climate change through his work on Soil Carbon, Digital Soil Mapping, Pedometrics, soil conservation and land degradation. He has worked out the Carbon emissions and carbon neutral plan for village 'Palli' in J&K ensuring climate action on ground. Prof. Dr. Vivak M. Arya, a distinguished academician currently serving as Professor in the Division of Soil Science and Agril. Chem. With over two decades of dedicated service in teaching, research, and extension, Prof. Arya has consistently contributed to advancing environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. He had visited as fellow to TEXAS A&M University, Agri Life (TAMU), Texas USA. Prof. Arya's research portfolio is marked by nationally significant projects supported amounted to Rs 100 crore by premier funding agencies including DST, DBT, ICAR, WORLD BANK FUNDED, NABARD, JKST&IC, JKDST and, HADP. Dr. Anil Bhat, Professor (Agricultural Economics) & Associate Director Research, SKUAST-Jammu, has over 14 years of experience in teaching, research and extension, with expertise in agricultural marketing, agribusiness management and startup innovation. He has published 151+ research papers in reputed national and international journals, authored/edited several books and holds around 10 IPRs. He has mobilized over ?38 crore in research funding and contributed to incubation of 112 agri-startups under RKVY-RAFTAAR. Dr. Bhat has received several national and international awards and has also visited foreign countries to attend conferences and deliver keynote addresses. The conference is being attended by many highly acclaimed scientists and distinguished academicians from across the globe viz., Prof. Rattan Lal, Prof. M. K. Verma and Dr. Mahesh Gathala, CIMMYT, India. |
