Monday, February 6 2006 11:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Laguna (The Philippines): President A P J Abdul Kalam today (Feb 6, 2006) said Jammu and Kashmir has a 'great future' with 'tremendous opportunities for development' and the commitment of the people to it.

"Kashmir has a great future. There are tremendous opportunities of development and during my recent visit to Kashmir, I could see the commitment of the people for a developed future," Kalam said in reply to question from a young agriculture scientist from Srinagar now working at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) here.

During the interaction with IRRI scientists, Kalam asked scientist Roohi Mushtaq what she thought of the conditions in the state and her reply was that the education system in the state had been 'badly damaged' and it needed to be 'reconstructed'.

When the scientist, who got training in plant breeding, said she would like to return to the state later this year and work as a teacher in Sher-e-Kashmkir University of Agriculture Sciences, Kalam was enthused and said, "The desire of committed young scientists like you to return and work with your people is the surest sign of a great future for Kashmir".

Roohi said IRRI has promised to continue to support agriculture sciences in Kashmir.