SRINAGAR, MAY 02: In a landmark move to redefine the landscape of agricultural education and extension in India, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Kashmir today launched the Student Rural Exploration Program (SREP) under the framework of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP-20).
This pioneering initiative, launched under the leadership of Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, saw a massive grassroots outreach this weekend as more than 3000 students ventured into more than 300 university adopted villages across the Kashmir Valley. By transitioning from the traditional classroom setting to immersive field experiences, the university is bridging the critical gap between advanced scientific techniques and traditional indigenous practices, ensuring that the next generation of agricultural professionals is deeply rooted in the realities of rural livelihoods.
Speaking at the occasion, Prof Ganai said, “The Student Rural Exploration Program is not just an academic initiative—it is a transformational movement. By placing our students directly in villages for sustained engagement, we are creating a living bridge between science and society. This program will generate real-time rural intelligence, empower communities with knowledge, and shape a new generation of socially committed professionals.”
The program is structured as a sophisticated, multidisciplinary engagement where students from various faculties, including Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary Sciences, Fisheries, Sericulture, Forestry, and Agriculture Engineering, work in specialized cohorts. Each group typically consists of four undergraduate students, two postgraduate students, and one PhD scholar, all operating under the direct guidance of a scientist mentor. This collaborative model allows for a tiered level of learning and field execution, marking a historic first in the country as a university-led effort to engage with the farming community at the panchayat level on such a significant scale. These teams are conducting Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)-cum-survey exercises, providing students with hands-on exposure to the complexities of the rural economy in diverse terrains.
The impact of the initiative is designed to be mutually beneficial for both the academic and farming communities. While students collect vital data and gain a firsthand understanding of grassroots challenges, farmers receive expert technical advisories, diagnostic services, and updated information regarding various government schemes and agricultural interventions.
With this program, SKUAST-K shall strengthen the bonds with the farming community by gaining their trust and enlightening them with the latest technologies, whether in the form of high-quality seeds, improved varieties, resilient rootstocks, or superior breeds.
Furthermore, the initiative acts as a catalyst for entrepreneurship, startups, and innovation within the rural sector. The Vice Chancellor, alongside the university’s Deans, Directors, and Associate Deans, actively monitored the rollout across multiple districts, interacting with students to ensure the internship provides real-time field exposure that translates academic theory into practical solutions.
Hailed as a game-changer for the national agricultural landscape, the Student Rural Exploration Program is now set to become a permanent fixture of the university’s academic calendar, with exploration visits scheduled to take place every fortnight. The strategic outreach transforms students into empathetic innovators who can advocate for sustainable and climate-resilient practices.
By documenting local issues and assessing needs as they arise, SKUAST-K is creating a robust feedback loop that ensures university research remains relevant and impactful for the people it serves. By fostering a profound sense of responsibility toward the farming community, SKUAST-K is not only empowering local growers but also equipping its graduates with the practical skills and field exposure necessary to lead the global shift toward sustainable rural development.
The initiative underscores a future where scientific intervention meets the wisdom of the land, ultimately strengthening the bond between the laboratory and the farm.
