Prof (Dr.) Raihana Habib Kanth assumed the charge of coveted chair of Director Extension at SKUAST Kashmir, Shalimar on 14th of Feb, 2025. She has been appointed by a selection committee after following a rigorous process of screening and the subsequent interview by leading agriculture experts and approved by SKUAST-K Board of Management which reflects her exceptional subject expertise and leadership. This marks a significant milestone in her distinguished career.
Dr. Kanth is an eminent scientist of repute having 30 years of professional service at her back including academics, research and extension. She has an excellent track record of providing visionary leadership at important junctions viz-a-viz., assignments and responsibilities in academics, research and extension. She is the first lady to administer FoA, Wadura as I/C Dean since 2022; she has been rightly called as “a lady with a golden heart” for her excellent accomplishments in student mentorship and campus development and the empathy for the students, faculty and non-teaching staff of the faculty, she has won accolades and is respected by all both in varsity and outside. She during her tenure has also adopted two (02) Govt. High Schools and two (02) Private Schools for achieving excellence in academics and imparting of requisite skill by allowing use of faculty infrastructure to keep pace and resonate with Shikshit and the Kaushal Bharat Abiyan of Govt. of India. She has also served diligently as Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Budgam & Srinagar for three years and the Head Division of Agronomy, FoA Wadura from 2015-2018.
Dr. Kanth has guided more than 50 M.Sc. and Ph.D. students to academic and research excellence. She has authored more than 150 research papers and 04 books. She has also executed till date 65 research and extension projects that explore besides innovative solutions to crop production and management strategy; have death in outreach intensification. She has been part of many pioneering academic & policy initiatives at regional, national and international level like the framing of curriculum for “Degree by Design” program, finalization of syllabus under 5th & 6th Dean’s Committee for B.Sc. (Agriculture), SKUAST Kashmir Innovation & Startup policy.
Dr. Kanth has been the SKUAST-K coordinator for National Innovation & Startup policy Program for Ministry of Higher Education, Govt of India. She is the incumbent President of Kashmir Chapter of Indian Society of Agronomy. She has also been the ambassador of Institutional Innovation Council (IIC) at SKUAST-K. She has also played a pivotal role in the formation of Seven (07) student clubs at FoA, Wadura.
Dr. Kanth has a very good organizational capacity and expertize as proved by the fact that she has organized more than 300 outreach programs for the benefit of farming community. Conduct of several successful programs in collaboration with NGOs, Government and private sector entities for strengthening the hands of small and marginal farming including tribals is one of her important achievements.
Dr. Kanth is in the editorial board of a number of reputed journals and magazines like Indian Journal of Agronomy, SKUAST-K News, Research Journal Agricultural Sciences, Journal of Agro-meteorology etc. She has an international exposure and had been part of the study visits to Sichuan University, Chengdu, China and Galilee International Management Institute, Israel. She is the role model of women emancipation and empowerment.
These very roles have provided her with exhaustive and invaluable experience and a deep understanding of the operational of agricultural research, teaching and extension system especially the needs of the vulnerable agricultural community and the society in general.
Beyond any doubt her well-rounded experience will be of great benefit and service to the extension services of SKUAST-K and the farming community.
