{"id":32337,"date":"2026-10-09T20:22:50","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T20:22:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/?p=32337"},"modified":"2026-10-09T20:22:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T20:22:50","slug":"skuast-k-harvests-pesticide-free-apples-for-first-time-in-kashmir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/2026\/10\/09\/skuast-k-harvests-pesticide-free-apples-for-first-time-in-kashmir\/","title":{"rendered":"SKUAST-K harvests pesticide-free apples for first time in Kashmir"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>All 55 pesticides screened below quantification level, says VC Prof Ganai<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Srinagar, Oct 09: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has harvested pesticide-free apples in Kashmir for the first time, with laboratory testing showing all 55 pesticides screened were below the quantification level, Vice-Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai said on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking at a seminar on natural farming organised by SKUAST-K in collaboration with the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and the Kisan Advisory Board, J&amp;K, at Shalimar, Ganai, as per the news agency\u2014Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the university is promoting natural and organic farming to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and protect soil, water, biodiversity and human health.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have harvested a pesticide-free apple for the first time in Kashmir. We tested the apples for 55 pesticides, and all 55 were found to be below the quantification level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Ganai said intensive agricultural practices and excessive use of chemicals and pesticides were adversely affecting the environment, soil, water and air, besides contributing to biodiversity loss.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUltimately, it has a bad effect on human health. We can see that the incidence of cancer is increasing. We need to focus on natural farming and organic agriculture,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>He said SKUAST-K had established a Centre of Excellence in Natural Farming and a major organic farming centre equipped with an industrial-scale bio-input production facility.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a big incubation facility where we are teaching youth and farmers of Kashmir how to produce bio-fertilisers, bio-controls and bio-input agents on a large scale and how to deploy them,\u201d Ganai said.<\/p>\n<p>He said these initiatives would help reduce the use of chemical pesticides and promote environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.<\/p>\n<p>Ganai said the university was working with farmers, the government and agricultural experts to create awareness across Jammu and Kashmir about sustainable farming methods.<\/p>\n<p>He also highlighted SKUAST-K\u2019s One Health programme, under which environmental, agricultural, animal and human health are addressed together. (KNO)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All 55 pesticides screened below quantification level, says VC Prof Ganai Srinagar, Oct 09: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has harvested pesticide-free apples in Kashmir for the first time, with laboratory testing showing all 55 pesticides screened were below the quantification level, Vice-Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai said on Friday. 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