Associated News Bureau

LG Sinha Inaugurates Four Major Facilities at SKUAST-K, Pushes Farmer-Centric Innovation and Agricultural Entrepreneurship

SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER 11: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday inaugurated four major infrastructure facilities at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), underscoring the need to promote farmer-centric innovation, entrepreneurship and smart agricultural practices to strengthen food security and transform the rural economy. Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor described agricultural universities as vital institutions where concerns and aspirations associated with national food security can be translated into practical solutions. He said the four facilities inaugurated on the occasion reflect a comprehensive vision of technological advancement, sustainable agriculture and rural development. The facilities include a solar-powered, Internet of Things (IoT)-based irrigation and fertigation system, a Prototype Design and Development Centre, a Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and a Health and Wellness Centre. Highlighting the significance of the IoT-based irrigation and fertigation system, Sinha said the technology would help ensure the timely and precise supply of water and nutrients to crops. He observed that such innovations could particularly benefit small and marginal farmers by reducing labour-intensive irrigation practices and dependence on conventional energy sources. The Prototype Design and Development Centre, he said, would provide an institutional platform for converting innovative ideas into practical agricultural machinery, tools and technologies, thereby bridging the gap between laboratory research and field-level requirements. Describing the Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship as a transformative initiative, the Lieutenant Governor encouraged students to emerge as job creators rather than job seekers. He identified areas such as seed testing, cold-chain management and soil health services as promising avenues for young entrepreneurs. He urged the university to develop the directorate into a comprehensive support platform offering mentorship, technical guidance and assistance in accessing financial resources to aspiring entrepreneurs across Jammu and Kashmir. The newly inaugurated Health and Wellness Centre, he said, would further strengthen the university's institutional infrastructure by addressing the health and well-being needs of students and faculty members. Calling for the wider adoption of technology at the grassroots level, Sinha asked SKUAST-K to extend the new irrigation technology to villages within the coming year and involve farmers in its further development. He also stressed the need to translate sensor-generated data into simple, practical agricultural advisories in local languages and disseminate them through digital platforms. Setting an ambitious target for innovation-driven entrepreneurship, the Lieutenant Governor called upon the university to facilitate the establishment of at least 100 student-led enterprises and startups within the coming year. He emphasised the need to strengthen institutional linkages among research laboratories, cooperative societies, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and farming communities, while ensuring that young people and women farmers remain at the centre of agricultural development programmes. “We must make data and technology partners of the farmer. Our goal should be to establish at least 100 student-led enterprises and startups from the SKUAST-Kashmir campus within the coming year,” he said. Referring to the challenges posed by climate change, the Lieutenant Governor called for making environmental sustainability and responsible resource management integral to the university's institutional vision. He observed that the identity of Jammu and Kashmir is deeply rooted in the hard work of its farmers and artisans and its rich agricultural, horticultural and handicraft traditions. He also highlighted the contribution of Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) initiatives and farmer-centric policies over the past six years in strengthening the rural economy and creating avenues of employment and entrepreneurship for youth. “The real success of any modern technology or modern tools will come only when their benefits reach the small farmers in villages and bring about a real increase in their incomes,” Sinha said. He maintained that the ultimate measure of agricultural development should be reflected in higher farm incomes, stronger economic security, improved living standards for farming families and expanded livelihood opportunities in rural areas. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor released a coffee table book documenting SKUAST-Kashmir's institutional journey and achievements. He also launched a Multi-Tier Data Management and Accreditation Workflow System aimed at improving institutional data management and streamlining accreditation-related processes. Minister for Agriculture Production, Finance, Mining and Cooperatives Javid Ahmad Dar; Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Kashmir Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai; Director SKIMS Prof. Mohammad Ashraf Ganie; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo; Registrar SKUAST-K Prof. Azmat Alam Khan; heads of departments, senior officers, faculty members and students attended the inaugural ceremony. ANB