JAMMU, March 3: In a major initiative aimed at strengthening agri-entrepreneurship in Jammu & Kashmir, the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-Jammu) on Tuesday organised an Industry-Startup Outreach Programme under the Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP).
The programme was inaugurated by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, who called for transforming Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) into enterprise-driven institutions focused on value addition and market competitiveness.
The event witnessed participation from senior government officials, industry leaders, startups, Farmer Producer Organizations, academicians and students, with a focus on strengthening industry-academia-startup linkages in the Union Territory.
Vice Chancellor Professor B.N. Tripathi, Mission Director JKCIP/HADP Sandeep Kumar (IFS), statutory officers of the university and representatives from institutions including Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Indian Institute of Technology Jammu, Indian Institute of Management Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, District Industries Centre (DIC) Jammu, UTLBC, startups and FPOs attended the programme.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Secretary stressed that FPOs must move beyond aggregation and adopt enterprise-oriented models centred on processing, packaging, branding and value addition to significantly enhance farmers’ incomes.
He outlined the “4 Cs” framework — culture, capacity building, commercialisation and connectivity — as key pillars for startup success. Dulloo reiterated the government’s commitment to improving ease of doing business in agriculture, strengthening the startup ecosystem and ensuring timely and affordable credit through strong banking partnerships.
Highlighting the region’s strengths, he noted that Jammu & Kashmir is a major producer of wool, trout, floriculture products and medicinal and aromatic plants, but observed that processing infrastructure remains limited and requires focused attention.
Expressing confidence in the outreach initiative, he said such engagements should evolve into sustained partnership models, positioning Jammu & Kashmir as a vibrant agri-entrepreneurship hub under JKCIP, HADP and Mission YUVA, contributing to the broader vision of Viksit Bharat.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Professor B.N. Tripathi said organising the programme outside the university campus was a strategic move, reflecting the expanding role of universities as drivers of entrepreneurship and regional economic growth.
He highlighted key milestones in industry engagement, including the establishment of the Bayer Learning Centre and the introduction of Professors of Practice from industry to integrate practical expertise into academics.
The Vice Chancellor informed that over 120 startup ideas have been incubated in agriculture and allied sectors, with more than 32 receiving funding support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India. However, he emphasised that funding alone is insufficient and underlined the need for structured mentorship during scaling, compliance and commercialisation stages.
He urged industry partners to extend support through mentorship, contract research, joint product development, pilot trials, technology validation and integration into established supply chains.
The programme also featured two panel discussions involving representatives from academia, industry and financial institutions. Dr S.K. Gupta, Director Research, presented the vote of thanks, while Dr Sanjay Guleria, Dean, Faculty of Basic Sciences, briefed participants about the objectives of the outreach programme.
The event marked a significant step towards bridging the gap between research, innovation and market access in Jammu & Kashmir’s agriculture and allied sectors.
