VINOD BHAT
LUDHIANA, Jan 17: In a significant recognition of scientific leadership and grassroots agricultural transformation, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ICAR–ATARI), Zone-I, Ludhiana, has honoured Prof. (Dr.) Ishfaq Abidi, Chief Scientist and Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Ganderbal, with a prestigious citation for his outstanding contributions to agricultural extension, research and institutional development.
The citation, awarded on January 11, 2026, acknowledges Dr Abidi’s visionary leadership that has transformed KVK Ganderbal into a nationally recognised model KVK and the leading extension centre in Jammu and Kashmir. Since assuming charge in May 2022, Dr Abidi has spearheaded a comprehensive institutional turnaround, positioning the KVK as a centre of excellence in climate-resilient agriculture, high-tech horticulture, digital farming, mechanisation and agri-entrepreneurship.
KVKs are frontline agricultural extension institutions of ICAR, mandated to bridge the gap between research laboratories and farmers’ fields. Operating under diverse agro-climatic conditions, they play a crucial role in technology assessment, refinement and dissemination. Under Dr Abidi’s stewardship, KVK Ganderbal has not only fulfilled this mandate but has significantly exceeded national benchmarks in innovation, outreach and impact.
One of the landmark achievements highlighted in the citation is the conversion of nearly 35 acres of degraded and unproductive land into fertile farmland, demonstrating sustainable land-use practices at a time when soil degradation and shrinking cultivable land pose major challenges across the Himalayan region. The establishment of drone-based precision farming and advanced mechanisation systems has introduced farmers to cutting-edge technologies, improving efficiency, reducing input costs and enhancing productivity.
Dr Abidi also led the development of the country’s first public-sector Oats Silage Unit, a pioneering initiative that has strengthened fodder availability and livestock nutrition in Kashmir, where feed shortages often affect dairy productivity. The establishment of a Farm Machinery Custom Hiring Centre has further enabled small and marginal farmers to access modern equipment at affordable rates, while the setting up of a Molecular Laboratory has strengthened scientific research, quality control and plant health diagnostics.
In horticulture, a backbone of Kashmir’s rural economy, KVK Ganderbal under Dr Abidi’s leadership has promoted high-density orchards and established clonal rootstock mother banks, helping farmers shift towards modern orchard systems with higher yields, better quality produce and improved resistance to pests and diseases. The centre has also focused on quality seed and planting material production, addressing a long-standing bottleneck in agricultural productivity.
A major boost came through the large-scale implementation of the National Oilseed Mission. Covering nearly 7,000 kanals across 35 villages, the initiative resulted in remarkable productivity gains of 25–35 quintals per acre, significantly enhancing farmers’ incomes and reducing dependence on imported edible oils. This intervention aligns with the national goal of achieving self-reliance in oilseed production.
The citation also notes the impressive financial turnaround of KVK Ganderbal. Through diversification of integrated farming systems, strengthening of apiculture, and promotion of climate-smart technologies, the KVK’s annual revenue increased from ₹3–4 lakh to an estimated ₹20–22 lakh. This financial sustainability has enabled reinvestment in infrastructure, training programmes and farmer-centric innovations.
Beyond technology and infrastructure, Dr Abidi has placed strong emphasis on human capital development. He has led extensive farmer outreach programmes, skill development initiatives, MSME promotion and HADP-linked activities, while ensuring meaningful participation of women through empowerment programmes. These efforts have played a vital role in enhancing rural livelihoods, encouraging agri-entrepreneurship and promoting inclusive development in Ganderbal and adjoining districts.
Recognising his scientific excellence, unwavering commitment to farmer-centric development and contribution to sustainable agriculture, ICAR–ATARI Zone-I conferred the honour for Dr Abidi’s outstanding service at KVK Ganderbal during the period 2022–2025. The citation was signed by ICAR–ATARI Director Parvender Sheoran.
Agricultural experts view this recognition as a testament to how strong leadership, scientific innovation and community engagement can transform extension institutions into engines of rural growth. At a time when Kashmir’s agriculture faces the twin challenges of climate change and market volatility, KVK Ganderbal’s success under Dr Ishfaq Abidi offers a replicable model for sustainable and resilient farming across the region and beyond.
