Jammu, Aug 4: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday asserted that J&K was poised to achieve its vision to double the contribution of its agriculture and allied sectors to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in five years.
He said that the success of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors’ Project (JKCIP), visibly spiralling up J&K farmers’ income, would make it possible.
Exhorting the new generation of scientists and experts to focus on smart, innovative and diversified farming, LG Sinha said that given the indications, the feminine growth engine would lead and bolster agriculture and allied sectors in J&K in the years to come.
He was responding to media queries after addressing the 9th convocation of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu (SKUAST-J) here.
“Today, we should talk only about the excellent performance demonstrated by our daughters, aspiring to be agriculture scientists, winning gold medals (at the SKUAST-J annual convocation). This is a historic moment for J&K. This is writing on the wall that the daughters of J&K are all set to contribute monumentally to the growth of agriculture and allied sectors. We all should appreciate it,” the LG said in response to the queries of the media persons related to political developments.
Commending the performance of the agricultural university, he said, “I’m very happy to note that SKUAST Jammu in the past 4-5 years have established new records.”
LG Sinha said that the positive impact of HADP and JKCIP, which we started in 2022, has become visible in the growth of the income of J&K farmers.
“I believe that J&K is poised to achieve the objective with which this scheme was envisioned, that is, doubling the contribution of agriculture and allied sectors in the GDP of J&K in the next five years. Growth indicators spell out that the scheme is charting the right direction,” he said.
Earlier, addressing the 9th convocation ceremony of SKUAST-J, LG Sinha congratulated all the graduating students.
He also extended his felicitations to the management, faculty, and staff on the completion of 25 glorious years of the university.
The LG lauded the significant contribution of women’s power to innovation and enhancing productivity and efficiency in the agriculture sector.
He said that in areas like climate-smart crops, pest management, biotech solutions, and organic farming, the participation of women scientists had made an invaluable contribution.
“Agriculture and Allied Sector is witnessing women-led development. I am extremely proud that out of eight gold medalists in postgraduate and graduate students, seven are our daughters. Out of 35 Certificates of Merit in PhD and Post-Graduate, 32 Merit Certificates were awarded to our daughters. It is a symbol of the rising influence of women’s power in agriculture and allied sectors, and I believe they will be driving innovation for sustainable agriculture and enhancing farmers’ income,” LG Sinha said.
At the convocation ceremony, he spoke on the need for a stronger innovation and modern technology ecosystem for sustainable agricultural practices to prioritise farmer incomes, risk mitigation, and strengthening farmer-industry linkages.
“Farmer welfare is the top priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The positive impact of the HADP and JKCIP on farmers’ income is now visible,” he said. “Total transformation at all stages of beej se bazar tak (from seed to market) has been our mantra in J&K. The resolution of lab-to-land has been realised to make the small and marginal farmers self-reliant,” the LG said.
He called upon the new generation of scientists and experts to focus on smart farming.
The LG said the revolution in seed production, pest management, food processing, and farm mechanisation had ensured opportunities for the young professional to contribute to product development and quality control.
He also inaugurated a state-of-the-art Ex-Situ Gene Bank.
SKUAST-J has become the 3rd institution in the country to have an Ex-Situ Gene Bank.
This facility will preserve genetic resources like seeds, plant tissue, animal germplasm outside their natural habitat and prove to be an invaluable resource for breeding and research programmes.
LG Sinha also laid the foundation stone for a 200-bedded Farmers’ Hostel and a Faculty Building with common academic facilities.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah; Minister for Agriculture Production, Javid Ahmad Dar; Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo; Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production, Shailendra Kumar; Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-J, B N Tripathi were also present on the occasion.
