SMVDU, School of Biotechnology organized an educational trip to SKUAST, Kashmir.

An educational trip was organized by the School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra for the undergraduate and post graduate students pursuing Biotechnology, at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir. The students had the opportunity to explore the ongoing research as well as field work and were provided with a comprehensive knowledge of the recent research endeavors in the institute. The students visited various departments of the institute including the division of plant biotechnology, Nutritional genomics & proteomics, Cell culture, Transcriptomics lab, Horticulture, Floriculture as well as and various crop fields. Students were provided with valuable insights into the intricate workings and use of various instruments present in the labs and were made aware of the research done in these labs. The students and the faculty also had an opportunity to interact with various faculty members of the institutes who made them aware about the polyhouses for plant breeding, production, seed germination etc.

The visit was an outcome of the coordinated efforts of Prof. Shabir Ahmad Wani, Dean Faculty of Horticulture, SKUAST Kashmir and Dr. Indu Bhushan, Assistant Professor & Coordinator of the educational visit for SoBT along with Dr. Ratna Chandra, Head of the School of Biotechnology from SMVDU. The other faculty member accompanying the students included Er. Arvind Kumar Yadav, Assistant Professor, School of Biotechnology. Professor Noshin, Faculty of Horticulture, describes about the various varieties of apple and Kiwi grown in Kashmir, imparted from various countries of Europe. She has also given the Introduction of Deno blocks and informed how they were able to enhance the yield of fruit and vegetables. They attained10 times enhancement of yield compared to  the traditional methods. The visit was also conducted in the department of Plant Biotechnology, where Professor Muhammad Ashraf Bhat, highlighted the ongoing projects in the department and briefed about the Magic food, Taxo food Iron flux and green nanotechnology. The Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Prof. Pragati Kumar, expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the faculty of the School of Biotechnology towards the overall grooming and development of their students as able professionals. He laid stress on organizing more such visits to add to the practical and firsthand experience of the students at SMVDU.