Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) and the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA), New Delhi on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for creating awareness among the farmers.
Under the MoU, SKUAST-K and WDRA will also train warehouse owners, traders for scientific storage of agricultural produce, preservation practices, assaying procedures and stacking practices.
The MoU was signed by the Under Secretary, WDRA, U K Dabas and Director, Research, SKUAST-K, Prof Haroon R Naik in presence of Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai and Chairman, WDRA, Manoj Kumar.
CGM NABARD, Regional Office J&K, Bhallamudi Sridhar; representatives of CA Store owners and farmers, scientists and officers of the university were present at the signing in ceremony.
Speaking at the occasion, Manoj Kumar said the MoU is aimed at creating awareness and training for various stakeholders in post-harvest and CA Store management, including for adopting best practices in storage, grading and packaging for perseverance of the agriproduct and maintaining the quality.
Prof Nazir, while thanking the WDRA for choosing SKUAST-K as a partner for imparting skills and creating awareness among farmers, millers, warehouse owners and managers, assayers and graders.
He also urged the industry stakeholders to come forward and sponsor the relevant research at the university for the benefit of all including the farmers, consumers and value chain partners.
The awareness and training would include the importance of scientific storage of agriculture produce; safeguard the stock and availability of pledge finance against the stored stocks; imparting knowledge of depositors/farmers in respect of provisions of W (D&R) Act, e-NWR, scientific storage practices, preservation practices, assaying procedures, stacking practices, etc; and educating farmers, depositors and warehousemen in availing the benefits of the ecosystem created by WDRA.
