SKUAST-K Secures Rs 7.2 Crore ANRF Funding for Advanced Agricultural Research | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has secured research funding worth Rs 7.22 crore after winning eight high-impact projects sanctioned by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), marking a major boost to agricultural innovation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The projects were approved following a highly competitive national selection process that saw more than 12,600 proposals submitted by universities and national laboratories across India. Only a small fraction cleared the rigorous peer-review mechanism, positioning SKUAST-K among the country’s leading research institutions in agriculture and allied sciences.

According to university officials, the funded projects address some of the most pressing challenges facing Himalayan agriculture, horticulture, livestock and biosecurity. The research portfolio includes development of disease-resistant apple varieties, modernisation of saffron cultivation, climate-resilient common beans, pheromone-based pest control systems, genomic mapping of Himalayan sheep, regenerative medicine applications, diagnostic platforms and early detection of fruit diseases.

Vice Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai said the ANRF support represents a transformative moment for the university and the region’s farming systems. He said the projects have the potential to significantly enhance farm productivity, reduce chemical dependency and improve food security while responding to climate stress.

One of the flagship projects, led by Dr Abdul Rouf Malik, focuses on combating apple scab, a fungal disease that routinely affects orchardists across the Himalayan belt. Using advanced gene-network modelling and transcriptomics, the project aims to develop disease-resistant apple cultivars that could substantially reduce pesticide usage.

Another major initiative targets saffron, with Dr Mudasir Ahmad Mir leading research that applies CRISPR-Cas-based genome editing to shorten the crop’s long dormancy period. The study aims to enable biannual cultivation, addressing yield stagnation and climate-related challenges in saffron farming.

Food security concerns are addressed through a genomic-enabled breeding programme on common beans led by Dr Bilal Ahmed Padder, focusing on durable resistance to anthracnose disease. The shift towards genetic resistance is expected to minimise reliance on chemical control methods.

Environmental sustainability forms a key pillar of the research package, with Dr Barkat Hussain developing pheromone-based management strategies for the diamondback moth, a major pest of cruciferous crops. Complementing this, a project led by Dr Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh aims to generate real-time pest surveillance data for early intervention and reduced crop losses.

Livestock research features prominently, with Dr Mohsin Ayoub Mir set to establish the first comprehensive genomic database of temperate Himalayan sheep to support science-based breeding and conservation. In the biomedical domain, Dr Mudasir Bashir Gugjoo is working on biomimetic scaffolds for bone repair, expanding the university’s footprint beyond conventional agriculture.

The biosecurity dimension is addressed through a project led by Dr Aflaq Hamid, which seeks to develop a CRISPR-Cas12a diagnostic platform for rapid detection of tulip viruses, strengthening early warning systems for high-value crops.

University officials said the ANRF-funded projects collectively reinforce SKUAST-K’s growing role as a centre for cutting-edge agricultural research, with outcomes expected to directly benefit farmers, orchardists and livestock rearers across Jammu and Kashmir.