Governor lauds Palampur farm varsity role in education, research
The Governor and Chancellor of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV) Shiv Pratap Shukla lauded the university’s contributions to education, research and agricultural extension, calling them a reflection of the dedication of its faculty, researchers and students.
Chairing the 26th Senate meeting of the university at Palampur on Thursday, the Governor expressed pride in CSKHPKV’s 13th national ranking among agricultural universities. “This recognition highlights the university’s commitment to excellence,” he said.
He praised the development and approval of 182 new crop varieties and registration of 27 local ones, saying these have helped boost farm prosperity in Himachal Pradesh. He also appreciated the promotion of drone technology, precision agriculture and smart farming, noting that the university is effectively translating research into field-level applications.
Urging scientists to align research with the goal of enhancing farmers’ income, the Governor stressed the need to promote natural and digital farming, crop diversification in hilly areas, smart villages, post-harvest processing, cold chain infrastructure and access to markets through e-NAM. “These are key steps towards the vision of a Developed India by 2047,” he said.
Shukla noted with satisfaction the role of the university’s incubation centre in supporting agri start-ups under schemes like RAFTAAR, the Mukhyamantri Startup Yojana and Startup India. He said such initiatives are fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among the youth.
He also praised the adoption of the National Education Policy-2020, with focus on experiential learning, rural internships and entrepreneurship, helping students become job providers rather than job seekers.
Referring to university’s leadership in organic and natural farming, he highlighted the introduction of high-value crops like blueberries in marginal areas as an example of making agriculture a profitable venture for youth.
The Governor informed that the university is running 140 research projects worth Rs 60 crore and has signed 67 national and international MoUs. While acknowledging that complete financial self-reliance may be difficult, he emphasised optimal resource use, internal revenue generation, and ethical governance.
Earlier, the Governor planted a Ginkgo Biloba tree on the campus as a symbol of resilience and vision.
The Palampur MLA Ashish Butail called for a plan to promote turmeric cultivation, while Dehra MLA Kamlesh Thakur stressed quality control of farm equipments. The Vice Chancellor Professor Naveen Kumar shared latest achievements of the university. The senior officials of the agriculture and horticulture department and Senate members were also presentin he meeting.
Himachal Tribune