Srinagar October 30 (KNS): Division of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Faculty of Forestry, Benhama Watlar Ganderal, SKUAST-Kashmir kick started one week long two Entrepreneurship development programmes on Development of Hi-tech Nursery of conifers and broadleaved tree species for livelihood development in Kashmir Himalaya and Unlocking the potential and prospectus of Wild Edible Fruits (WEFs) through Ex-situ conservation, multiplication and value addition at Govt. Degree college Kangan, Ganderbal from 30.10.2023 to 05.10.2023.

The inaugural event started with the welcome address by Dr. Waseem Yaseen, HOD, Division of EVS GDC, Kangan followed by the address by Dr. Sadaf Nazir, Principal GDC, Kangan Ganderbal. She in her address spoke about the necessity of conducting these programmes for the entrepreneurship development among the youth specially college students. She was very pleased that SKUAST-K has chosen GDC Kangan as their venue and was hopeful that these training programmes would be very beneficial for their students. Dr. G. M. Bhat, Professor and Head, Division of SAF, Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-Kashmir gave a detailed account of these two training programmes and spoke about the importance of these entrepreneurship programmes for development of livelihood for self sustenance.

Dr. N. A. Pala, Scientist and Training coordinator also spoke about designing of these two programmes for providing hands on training to the participants. The inaugural event was attended by all the teaching and non-teaching staff of GDC Kangan apart form 80 participants from different subjects of college students. Dr. Shabeena Parveen, HOD Urdu, Prof. Mudasir Nazar HOD, Political Science, Prof. Ab Qayoom Wani, HOH Kashmiri and Dr. Hilal Ahmad Malla Librarian at GDC Kangan were also present at the event. The inaugural event ended with vote of thanks by Dr. N. A. Pala, Scientist and training coordinator.

Both the coordinators, Dr. G. M. Bhat and Dr. N. A. Pala training coordinators acknowledged the efforts and support of  Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganiae and Director Planning and Monitoring Prof. H. R.Naik, Dean Faculty of Forestry, Prof. S. A. Gangoo. Coordinators were also very much thankful to the to the sponsoring agency Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Govt. of India, New Delhi. After the inaugural event Dr. G. M. Bhat Training coordinator for development of Hi-tech Nurseries and Dr. N. A. Pala training coordinator for Value addition of Wild edible Fruits gave a detailed presentations to the participants.