Proposals for Support of DBT for Strengthening Agricultural Biotechnology in SKUASTK

1. Proposals for Support of DBT for
Strengthening Agricultural
Biotechnology in SKUASTK

2. Meeting Dates
Date Venue Subject
7-5-2013 Directorate of Research Project formulations in the area of Societal
Development and Biotechnological
interventions for improvement of field and
horticulture crops
3-5-2013 FVSC and AH Shuhama Project formulation on” Centre for Advanced
Animal Disease Diagnosis
13-5-2013 -do- Project formulations in the area of Societal
Development through livestock and poultry
husbandry

3. Considerations while building the program for
support from DBT
• Challenges facing agriculture development in the
temperate and cold arid climatic region,
• Critical gaps in mitigating those challenges
• Perpetual support from DBT for the program under the
umbrella of SKUASTK
• Produce competent & trained Human Resource to
address the challenges facing hill and mountain agriculture
• Create inter-disciplinary Research Groups
• Focus Societal Biotechnology for income generation, sustainable &
clean agriculture
•

4. Challenges to agriculture in JK
• widening demand and supply gaps in most of the food items from the ever increasing
population pressure (over 25 million by 2030) from highest human growth rates in the country
(2.9 % vs 1.6%).
• global warming and climate change leading to emergence of new biotic and
abiotic stresses
• indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides contaminating food, soil
and water beyond minimum permissible levels. The consequences are the devastating
effects on the environment and the health of the consumers, leading to increased
incidence of diseases like the cancers.
• shrinking land resources due to population expansion, urbanization and soil degradation.
Presently only 7% of the total land is available for agriculture activities.
• receding glaciers due to global warming further aggravate the problems inherent to the
rain fed agriculture J & K,
• deforestation, loss of biodiversity and qualitative deterioration of the pastures
• stagnation in productivity of agricultural crops
• Less remunerative agriculture

5. Programs for support of DBT
• Developmental Programs: Rs 6629.61 Lacs
– Centre for Advanced Disease Diagnosis
– School of Biotechnology
• Societal Biotechnology Rs 631.95 lacs
– Plant Sciences- 3 projects
– Animal sciences- 3 projects
• R & D projects in Field / Rs 620.5 lacs
Horticulture crops

6. A. Developmental Programs
S.No Program Collaborators ~ Project cost
(Rs in lacs)
1 School of Biotechnology: Excellence
in Agricultural Education & Research
to address the challenges of
temperate and cold-arid agro-
climatic regions of the J & K state
Plant, Animal and Fisheries
sciences
2721.0
2 Centre for Advanced Animal
Disease Diagnosis in Temperate and
Cold Arid Himalayas
• Veterinary Pathology
• Microbiology and
Immunology
• Div. of Biotechnology
• Vet Parasitology
• Vet Public Health
3636.61

7. Societal Biotechnology
S.
No.
Title of project Collaborators Project
cost lacs)
1 Promotion of floriculture as a sustainable
rural enterprise in border districts of
Kupwara and Baramullah, J&K
•RRS, Wadoora 38.0
2 Development of Biocontrol product
formulations and their commercial use for
disease control in temperate agro-
ecosystem
•Division of
Plant
Pathology
108.0
3 Development and demonstration of food
products: Preservation and value addition of
food products
• Division of PHT 116.0

8. Societal Biotechnology
S.
No.
Title of project Collaborators Project
cost lacs)
4 Improvement of Socio-Economic Status of Small
Ruminant Breeders through Technological Backup in
Temperate Himalayan Region of Jammu and Kashmir
• MRCSG,
Shuhama
• Div LPT
• Vet Medicine
208.24
5 Livelihood generation by women in temperate hill
and mountain agro-climatic regions through backyard
poultry farming using improved germplasm
• Centre for
Research on
Poultry
• LPM
• Div ABG
107.0
6 Strengthening Rural livelihoods through
diversification of backyard poultry farming by
introduction and popularisation of improved Guinea
fowl germplasm
• Centre for
Research on
Poultry
• LPM
• LPT
54.71

9. Field / Horticulture Crop improvement through
biotechnological interventions
S.
No.
Title of project Collaborators Project
cost lacs)
1. Development of saffron (Crocus sativus
Kashmirianus) having tolerance against
drought and corm rot fungal pathogens
• Div of
Biotechnology
• Saffron Res
Station Konibal
132.5
2 Development of cold tolerant biological nutrient
solubilizers (P, K & Zn) for organic farming in
Kashmir valley
•Organic Far. Res Centre
•FoForestry
•Div of Envi Sci.
•MLRI Mansbal..
22.5
3 Marker assisted introgression of opaque2 gene into
elite maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines for the
hybrid development in Quality Protein Maize
•Div of Biotechnology
•D(K)ARS, Rangreth
91.0
4 Development and validation of low cost
biopesticides consisting efficient biocontrol agents
for disease management vis-à-vis crop production
•Division of Plant
Pathology
41.0

10. Field / Horticulture Crop improvement through
biotechnological interventions
S.
No.
Title of project Collaborators Project
cost lacs)
5 Survey, Collection and Morpho-molecular
Characterization of endemic and exotic
species and cultivars of genus Iris in Kashmir
valley
• Div of FMAP
• Div of
Biotechnology
40.0
6 Marker assisted introgression of major blast
resistance gene(s) into commercial
variety(ies) of rice (Oryza sativa L.)”
• Div of
Biotechnology
• MRCFC,
Khudwani
91.0
7 Development of new cultivars in
ornamentals through in vitro mutagenesis
• Div of FMAP
• Div of Fruit
Science
52.0
8 Identifying high nutritional value cold stress
tolerant rice genotypes of Kashmir through
biochemical and molecular characterization of
indigenous rice germplasm
•Div of Biotechnology
•MRCFC, Khudwani
150.5

11. Developmental Program-1
• School of Biotechnology: Excellence in
Agricultural Education & Research to address the
challenges of temperate and cold-arid agro-
climatic regions of the J & K state
• Vision
“SKUAST-K as Centre of Excellence
for building knowledge based bioeconomy in bio-resource rich Hill and Mountain
state of J&K
Mission
“Societal Biotechnology
for securing livelihood, food security and clean environment
through sustainable production of food, feed, fibre and energy
in hill and mountain agro-eco system of J & K”

12. Mandate of the School of Biotechnology
• Human Resource Development in Agricultural
Biotechnology
• Biotechnological interventions for sustainable
agriculture in temperate and cold-arid climatic
regions
• Entrepreneurship development in agri-business

13. Mandate 1: TeachingMandate 1: Teaching
Mandate Activity Impact
1. Human Resource
Development in
Agricultural
Biotechnology
• Post graduate teaching and research in
plant and animal biotechnology
• Build state-of-art PG teaching &
research facilities: SMART classrooms
and e-learning portal, research labs.
• Student exchange program with premier
institutions in India and abroad.
• Visiting faculty to support teaching in
frontier areas.
• Capacity building of the scientists in
over-seas institutions
• Produce competent, skilled
and trained human resource as
a driving force for building the
knowledge based bioeconomy
• Develop research
collaboration with national and
international institutes
• Inculcate team work in multi-
cultural society
• Expose students to learn and
understand problems in other
regions / countries
• Share knowledge and
information with other
institutions around the country

14. Mandate 2: ResearchMandate 2: Research
Mandate Activity Impact
1. Biotechnological
interventions for
sustainable
agriculture in
temperate and
cold-arid climatic
regions
• Promote Societal
Biotechnology programs
• Build inter-disciplinary
research groups within and
across institutions, to
address the problems facing
agriculture and allied
sectors using systems
biology approach
• Pursue basic and strategic
research to address the
problems challenging
agriculture in 21st
Century.
• Ameliorate the livelihood
of the poor and marginal
farmers through use of
Societal Biotechnology
programs
• Develop climate
resilient varieties of
plants and animals
• Reduced use of chemical
fertilizers and pesticides
to organic agriculture.
• Help the state of J & K
get ready for the next
green revolution (bio-
revolution)

15. MANDATE 3:MANDATE 3: Entrepreneurship
Mandate Activity Impact
Entrepreneurship
development in
agri-business
• Promote knowledge
and innovation as a
driving force for
economic
development
• Entrepreneurial
trainings in
emerging
technologies of
commercial value
• Forge academic-
industry
collaboration
• Awareness /
dissemination of the
generated
technologies
• Produce
entrepreneurs for
self employment
• Create job
opportunities

16. Developmental program - 2
Title: Centre for Advanced Animal Disease Diagnosis in Temperate
and Cold Arid Himalayas
Specific objectives
– Establish state of art facility with standard bio-safety measures for handling animal / zoonotic
pathogens in the temperate and cold arid climatic regions.
– Develop and Validate rapid sensitive and affordable diagnostics using conventional, serological and
molecular technology.
– Undertake advanced research to enhance scientific knowledge of the animal and zoonotic
pathogens /diseases in temperate and arid climatic zones using 21st
century cutting edge
technologies.
– Provide continuous Regional Animal Disease Monitoring, Surveillance, and disease forecasting.
– Develop new health cover strategies including prophylaxis and disaster management.
– Establish relationships with national and international referral laboratories/ repositories for
capacity building and exchange of knowledge.
– Capacity building: Impart trainings to veterinary professionals in management of diseases and
diagnostic techniques.

17. Conceptual framework
and scientific strategies

18. R & D 1:
Development of saffron (Crocus sativus
Kashmirianus) having tolerance against
drought and corm rot fungal pathogens
Objectives:
–Standardisation of the protocols for in-vitro
regeneration and micro-corm production
–Genetic transformation of saffron with
osmotin transgene
–Testing the wild and transgenic lines for
tolerence against drought and corm rot

19. R & D 2:
Development of cold tolerant biological nutrient solubilizers (P,
K & Zn) for organic farming in Kashmir valley
Collaborators:
– Organic Far. Res Centre , FoForestry, Div of Envi Sci., MLRI Mansbal..
Objectives:
• Isolation and characterization of P, K and Zn solubilizing
bacteria from the rhizosphere of different crop plants
• Screening of efficient P, K and Zn solubilizing bacteria for their
mineral solubilization and plant growth promoting activities
• Develop liquid formulation of P, K and Zn solubilizing bacteria
for cropping patterns of kashmir valley
• Field evaluation and crop response assessment of P, K and Zn
solubilizing bacterial inoculant

20. R & D 3:
Marker assisted introgression of opaque2 gene into
elite maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines for the hybrid
development in Quality Protein Maize
Collaborators:
– Div of Biotechnology, D(K)ARS, Rangreth
Objectives:
• Selection of inbred lines
• Development of mapping populations
• Marker assisted introgressuion of O2 gene
• Evaluation of the identified promising lines

21. R & D 4:
Development and validation of low cost biopesticides
consisting efficient biocontrol agents for disease
management vis-à-vis crop production
Collaborators:
– Division of Plant Pathology
Objectives:
• To produce low cost biopesticides of efficient isolates
of biocontrol fungi and bacteria by validating the
invented technology
• Validation of biopesticides and their demonstration in
farmers fields in different districts of kashmir valley

22. R & D 5:
Survey, Collection and Morpho-molecular
Characterization of endemic and exotic species and
cultivars of genus Iris in Kashmir valley
Collaborators:
– Div of FMAP, Div of Biotechnology
Objectives:
• Survey of the existing diversity
• Establish repository for conservation
• Morpho-molecular Characterization
• Study inter-relationship among various economically
important characters

23. R & D 6:
Marker assisted introgression of major blast
resistance gene(s) into commercial variety(ies) of rice
(Oryza sativa L.)”
Collaborators:
– Div of Biotechnology, MRCFC, Khudwani
Objectives:
• Assessment of pathogenic variability in M oryzae
• Marker assisted introgression of blast resistance gene
in rice varieties
• Recovery of the genome of the recurrent parent

24. R & D 7:
Development of new cultivars in ornamentals
through in vitro mutagenesis
Collaborators:
– Div of FMAP, Div of Fruit Science
Objectives:
• Standardization of in-vitro propogation protocol of
ornamentals
• Standardization of radiation dosage for micro shoots
of different ornamental crops
• Isolation and multiplication of beneficial mutants

25. R & D 8:
Identifying high nutritional value cold stress tolerant rice
genotypes of Kashmir through biochemical and molecular
characterization of indigenous rice germplasm
Collaborators:
– Div of Biotechnology, MRCFC, Khudwani
Objectives:
• Biochemical and Molecular characterization of rice
germplasms for nutritional and anti-oxidant potential
• Differential expression analysis for abiotic stress
tolerance
• Expression analysis of major candidate genes for Fe,
Zn uptake and accumulation of nicotinamide

26. Societal Development 1:
Promotion of floriculture as a sustainable rural
enterprise in border districts of Kupwara and
Baramullah, J&K
Collaborators:
– RRS, Wadoora
Objectives:
• Popularisation of commercial cultivation of Marigold
as off-season loose flower crop for export to other
states
• Popularization and production of high value bulbs of
lilium and corms of gladiolus as off-season

27. Societal Development 3:
Development and demonstration of food products:
Preservation and value addition of food products
Collaborators:
– Division of PHT
Objectives:
• Training of un-employed youth and farm women in
fruit and vegetable processing
• Organize product specific training programs to
entrepreneurs' to improve their skills in product
development and quality control
• Training to women in processing of surplus
agricultural produce

28. Societal Development 4:
Improvement of Socio-Economic Status of Small
Ruminant Breeders through Technological Backup in
Temperate Himalayan Region of Jammu and Kashmir
Collaborators:
– MRCSG, Shuhama, Div LPT, Vet Medicine ,
Objectives:
• Multiplication and dissemination of elite germplasm farmers
• Transfer of technologies for better nutrition and health management
under prevailing production system
• Provide cost effective technologies for value addition of animal by
products
• Capacity building for enterpreunership through training and consultancy

29. Societal Development 5:
Livelihood generation by women in temperate hill and
mountain agro-climatic regions through backyard poultry
farming using improved germplasm
Collaborators:
• Centre for Research on Poultry , LPM, Div ABG
Objectives:
• Develop various lines of poultry with varying levels of local
inheritance
• Assess performance of these genotypes
• Disseminate practices for backyard poultry farming using
improved germplasm

30. Societal Development 6:
Strengthening Rural livelihoods through diversification of
backyard poultry farming by introduction and popularisation of
improved Guinea fowl germplasm
Collaborators:
• Centre for Research on Poultry , LPM, Div of LPT
Objectives:
• Introduce and popularize Guinea fowl
• Study performance of Guinea fowl in local agro-climatic conditions
• Develop and Disseminate package of practices for Guinea fowl farming

31. •Thanks