LG Manoj Sinha Inaugurates Agriculture Summit, Kisan Mela at SKUAST-J
JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said that the ‘Agriculture First’ policy will play a crucial role in achieving the vision of a Developed India and an Aatma-Nirbhar Jammu and Kashmir, underscoring the importance of agriculture and allied sectors as the foundation of economic stability and social prosperity.
He described agriculture and allied sectors as the ultimate insurance policy for any developing society, stating that no nation can afford to overlook their importance.
“Despite persistent challenges—from climate change to economic uncertainty—one truth remains clear: agriculture and allied sectors will continue to provide stability and ensure prosperity for our citizens,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He was addressing the inaugural session of the three-day Agriculture Summit and Kisan Mela organised by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu.
In his keynote address, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted the transformative potential of AI-powered advanced agriculture and called for making technological tools affordable and accessible to farmers. He said technologies capable of predicting crop output using weather, soil, and crop data would enable small and marginal farmers to plan cultivation more strategically.
“Technology and agricultural development must go hand in hand. Technological progress creates new startups, industries and opportunities, while agriculture sustains life itself. Strong agriculture forms the foundation of national resilience, economic advancement, and human prosperity,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor expressed gratitude to agricultural scientists and the farming community, attributing India’s emergence as a global performer in agriculture and allied sectors to their dedication, innovation, and hard work.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, he said the goal is to see at least one Indian dish featured on plates across the world, adding that achieving this milestone would make agriculture a major contributor to a Viksit Bharat.
He also noted that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a recent high-level review meeting in the Union Territory, reiterated the Government of India’s commitment to strengthening Jammu and Kashmir’s dairy sector, including prioritising a milk processing capacity of two lakh litres per day through the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
The Lieutenant Governor directed officials, SKUAST scientists, and experts to deploy IoT sensors and satellite imagery to develop digital farm twins, enabling precision irrigation and potentially reducing water usage by 50–60 percent. He further called for the development of farmer-centric AI tools aimed at increasing yields by 15–30 percent, reducing input costs, and providing real-time data on soil health, crop conditions, and nutrient requirements.
“AI technology has the potential to revolutionise agriculture and allied sectors. We need viable, affordable, and high-impact solutions designed specifically for small and marginal farmers in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
He also stressed the need to establish village-level seed banks stocked with climate-resilient local varieties and highlighted the importance of circular farming models, where crop residue is converted into animal feed and manure is reused as organic fertiliser to improve soil health and reduce dependence on external inputs.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasised the development of processing facilities in all 20 districts and called for direct linkage of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with consumers to ensure better value realisation and reduce dependence on middlemen.
Addressing concerns related to misinformation surrounding recent trade agreements, he reiterated that the Government of India remains committed to safeguarding farmers’ interests and has put in place robust safeguards to protect agricultural production.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor launched the Crop Cultivation Scheme of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. He also inaugurated several facilities, including the Bayer Learning Centre for Advanced Agricultural Learning and Innovation, a Branding Centre, and a Pesticide Quality Control Laboratory.
The event also featured the felicitation of winners of the Startup First Awards under SKUAST-Jammu’s AgriThon 2.0 and the release of various publications related to agriculture and allied sectors.
Javid Ahmad Dar, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Election Departments; Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Shailendra Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department; Prof. B. N. Tripathi, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu; Padma Shri Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Professor Emeritus and former Director, IARI New Delhi; Dr. Amrish Vaid, Director Extension, SKUAST-Jammu; heads of departments, agricultural scientists, experts, faculty members, progressive farmers, stakeholders, and senior officials attended the inaugural ceremony.
