Katra, Dec 28: Faculty members from the School of Mechanical Engineering at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) have secured research funding for two projects aimed at addressing pressing challenges faced by tribal communities and farmers across Jammu and Kashmir. The projects have been approved under the Sponsored Research and Extension Programme 2025–26 of the Jammu and Kashmir Science, Technology and Innovation Council (JKST&IC), Department of Science and Technology.
The approved studies focus on clean energy access in remote tribal areas and reducing post-harvest losses in agriculture—two sectors that continue to affect livelihoods and economic stability in the Union Territory.
One of the sanctioned projects, with a grant of ₹6 lakh, explores an integrated biomass-based cooking and power generation system designed for off-grid tribal households. The research team includes Prof. E. Muthuswamy, Prof. Varun Dutta, and Dr. Rajiv Kumar from SMVDU. The proposed system seeks to replace inefficient traditional cookstoves by offering cleaner cooking solutions while producing limited electricity for household use. The initiative aims to reduce indoor smoke exposure, ease the daily burden on women, and support basic energy needs in areas with limited or no access to power supply.
The second project, awarded ₹8 lakh, focuses on improving packaging methods to reduce losses of agricultural and horticultural produce after harvest. The research team comprises Dr. Mir Irfan Ul Haq, Dr. Ankush Raina, Dr. Sanjay Mohan from SMVDU, along with Dr. Ovais Gulzar from the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora. The study proposes the use of 3D printing technology to develop crop-specific packaging that can better protect produce during storage and transportation, improve shelf life, and help farmers secure better market returns.
Vice-Chancellor of SMVDU, Prof. Pragati Kumar, congratulated the faculty members on securing the grants, stating that the projects reflect the university’s focus on research that responds to local needs and supports sustainable development. He expressed hope that the outcomes would contribute to improved living conditions and economic opportunities in the region.
Head of the School of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Yatheshth Anand, also congratulated the teams and said the achievement highlights the school’s growing research culture and its commitment to addressing region-specific challenges through engineering solutions.
Senior university officials, including the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Dean of Research and Development, extended their appreciation to the project teams. The faculty members also acknowledged the support of JKST&IC and the Department of Science and Technology for enabling research focused on public welfare in Jammu and Kashmir.
