• Inaugurates Four Facilities at SKUAST-K, Sets Target of 100 Student Startups
• SKUAST-K asked to Facilitate 100 Student-Led Startups
• Youth, Women Farmers to Be at Centre of Agricultural Programmes
• Research Must Translate into Higher Farm Incomes
Srinagar | Nov, 11: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday inaugurated four infrastructure facilities at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), calling for a farmer-centric approach to agricultural innovation, entrepreneurship and technology, with a focus on improving rural incomes.
Setting an ambitious target for the university, the Lieutenant Governor asked SKUAST-K to facilitate the establishment of at least 100 student-led startups within the coming year, stressing that agricultural institutions must move beyond research and ensure that innovations translate into tangible benefits for farmers.
He also called for taking the newly introduced smart irrigation technology to villages within a year and placing youth and women farmers at the centre of agricultural development programmes.
“Agricultural universities are unique institutions where concerns and aspirations linked to a nation’s food security can be transformed into concrete solutions,” Sinha said, underlining the growing importance of research institutions in addressing challenges related to climate change, sustainable agriculture and rural development.
The four facilities inaugurated include a solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT)-based irrigation and fertigation system, a Prototype Design and Development Centre, the Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and a Health and Wellness Centre.
The solar-powered irrigation system is designed to ensure the supply of water and nutrients to crops in appropriate quantities and at the right time. The Lieutenant Governor said the technology could particularly benefit small and marginal farmers by reducing labour-intensive practices and dependence on conventional energy sources.
He directed the university to take the technology to villages and involve farmers in its further improvement. He also stressed that sensor-generated data should be converted into simple agricultural advisories in local languages and delivered to farmers through digital platfor
Emphasising entrepreneurship, Sinha said students should be encouraged to become job creators rather than merely job seekers. He identified areas such as seed testing, cold-chain management and soil health services as potential avenues for young entrepreneurs.
He said the Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship should provide mentoring, guidance and assistance in accessing capital to aspiring entrepreneurs.
“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,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also called for stronger linkages between research laboratories, cooperative societies, farmer-producer organisations and farmers, observing that agricultural research must translate into practical solutions at the grassroots level.
Referring to the challenges posed by climate change, he stressed that sustainable development and environmental stewardship must remain central to the university’s institutional priorities.
He said the identity of Jammu and Kashmir was closely linked to its hardworking farmers, artisans and rich agricultural and horticultural traditions. He also referred to the role of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and farmer-centric policies in strengthening the rural economy and creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
“The true measure of our progress should be the rising income of farmers, their economic security, a better future for their families, and the new opportunities emerging in rural areas,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also released a coffee table book documenting SKUAST-Kashmir’s institutional journey and achievements. A Multi-Tier Data Management and Accreditation Workflow System was also launched to strengthen institutional data management and accreditation processes.
Minister for Agriculture Production, Finance, Mining and Cooperatives Javid Ahmad Dar, SKUAST-K Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Director SKIMS Prof. Mohammad Ashraf Ganie, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar AkshayLabroo, Registrar SKUAST-K Prof. Azmat Alam Khan, heads of departments, senior officials, faculty members and students attended the inaugural ceremony.
