A week-long training program on the “Micro-Irrigation System,” conducted for the first time in Kargil, concluded successfully on March 28. The initiative was sponsored by the Precision Farming Development Centre (PFDC), Leh under the NCPAH-PDMC, and organized by the School of Agricultural Science and Technology, Leh and Kargil, University of Ladakh, from March 22.

Councillor of Yourbaltak Constituency, Manzoor Hussain, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while Dr. Faizan Ahmad, Dean of Agricultural Science, and Dr. Nasreen Fatima, Senior Scientist and Head of KVK Kargil, were the Guests of Honour.

The program focused on educating farmers about micro-irrigation systems, with a special emphasis on drip irrigation technology. It was attended by 30 farmers from various villages, including Poyen, Minjee, Shiliktsey, Baroo, and Titichumik. The training aimed to promote water-efficient agricultural practices and provide hands-on knowledge on installation and maintenance of drip irrigation systems, tailored to the unique needs of the Ladakh region.

Dr. Nasreen Fatima encouraged the farmers to adopt drip irrigation for sustainable agriculture, highlighting its long-term benefits. Dr. Faizan Ahmad expressed his gratitude to Dr. Deldan Namgyal, Principal Investigator of PFDC Leh, for sponsoring the program. He urged participants to implement the technology, particularly in drought-prone areas, to boost fruit and vegetable cultivation.

In his address, Councillor Manzoor Hussain congratulated the trainees on completing the program and commended Dr. Faizan Ahmad and his team for conducting the first-ever micro-irrigation training in Kargil. He stressed the relevance of such technologies, especially in constituencies like Yoursbaltak, which face severe water scarcity, and shared his ongoing efforts to develop drip irrigation projects in the area.

Certificates were awarded to all the participants, while mementos and certificates of appreciation were presented to the resource persons, including Er. Ahmed Ali, who delivered an impactful session on successful drip irrigation stories in Kargil. Other resource persons—Dr. Rinchan Dolkar, Dr. Mansoor Ali, Dr. Tsultim Plamo, Dr. Kausar Fatima, and Stanzin Yangsdon (Assistant Professor, School of Agricultural Science and Technology, Kargil)—were also recognized for their valuable contributions to the program’s one-day thematic sessions.