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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
RAJYA SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 162
ANSWERED ON 13.02.2026
SETTING UP OF AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY IN CHENAB REGION,
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
*162. SHRI SAJJAD AHMAD KICHLOO:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government has examined the need for a dedicated Agriculture University or a
regional Campus in the Chenab region of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), given its unique
agro-climatic conditions, dependency on horticulture, pastoral farming and rain-fed
agriculture; and
(b) if so, whether Government proposes to establish an Agriculture University focused on
hill agriculture, climate-resilient farming, research and farmer training, in Kishtwar,
Doda or Ramban districts, if so, the details of proposed funding, implementation
roadmap and timelines thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)
(a) to (b): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (B) IN RESPECT OF
RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 162 FOR REPLY ON 13.02.2026
REGARDING “SETTING UP OF AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY IN CHENAB
REGION, JAMMU AND KASHMIR” ASKED BY SHRI SAJJAD AHMAD KICHLOO.
(a) & (b): Since agriculture including agricultural education is a state subject, the state
Government can open new University as per the requirement of the agricultural education,
research and extension needs of the State or Union territory. Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR) has not examined the need of an agricultural university or a regional campus
in the Chenab Region of Jammu & Kashmir.
Presently, there are 02 Agricultural Universities viz., (i) Sher-e-Kashmir University of
Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu (SKUAST-Jammu) (7 constituent
colleges), and (ii) Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of
Kashmir, Srinagar (SKUAST-Srinagar) (8 constituent colleges). In addition, there is an ICAR
institute namely, ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (ICAR-CITH), Srinagar,
and 02 regional stations of ICAR institutes namely ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic
Resources (NBPGR, New Delhi) Regional station at Srinagar and ICAR-Indian Grassland and
Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI Jhansi) Regional station at Srinagar. There are 20 Krishi
Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
For Chenab region, the agricultural university located at Jammu and its 08 regional
stations/sub-stations, and 03 KVKs located at Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban, and ICAR-CITH,
Srinagar, and Regional stations of NBPGR and IGFRI, located in the Union Territory of
Jammu & Kashmir are catering the need of agricultural research, education, extension and
training with mandate on agro-climatic conditions, dependency on horticulture, pastoral
farming and rain-fed agriculture conditions etc.
Regional Horticulture Research station at Bhaderwah (district-Doda) under SKUAST,
Jammu, is carrying out the research on temperate fruits, pluses and cereals crops, focusing on
development /improvement of area specific varieties, technologies, propagation, multiplication
and distribution of elite planting materials to the growers/ farmers. SKUAST, Jammu has seven
other Regional Research Station/Sub-Stations at Dhinasar, Poonch, Rajouri, Raya, Samba,
Udheywalla and Udhampur.
Presently, there is no proposal with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to
establish an agricultural university in the Chenab region (Kishtwar, Doda or Ramban districts)
of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
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