At the 9th Convocation Ceremony of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-Jammu), Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha placed the spotlight firmly on the pivotal role of women in reshaping the agriculture and allied sectors. Celebrating the theme of women-led development, he praised the remarkable contributions of Nari Shakti in driving innovation, enhancing productivity, and ensuring efficiency across the agricultural value chain. “In areas such as climate-smart crops, pest management, biotech solutions, and organic farming, the participation of women scientists has been invaluable,” the LG said. Expressing pride in academic excellence, he highlighted that women dominated the honours list—seven of the eight gold medals in postgraduate and graduate programmes were awarded to female students, while women also secured 32 of the 35 Certificates of Merit in PhD and postgraduate categories. “This is a symbol of the rising influence of Nari Shakti in agriculture and allied sectors. I believe they will continue to lead innovation for sustainable agriculture and improved farmer incomes,” he added. Underscoring the importance of modernisation, Sinha called for strengthening the innovation and technology ecosystem to promote sustainable farming, mitigate risks, improve farmer-industry linkages, and prioritise income growth for cultivators. He commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to farmer welfare, noting the visible impact of initiatives such as the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and the Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP). He reiterated Jammu & Kashmir’s transformative agricultural vision, built on the mantra “Beej se Bazar tak” (from Seed to Market), aimed at empowering small and marginal farmers towards self-reliance. The ceremony also marked significant institutional milestones. The LG inaugurated a cutting-edge Ex-Situ Gene Bank, positioning SKUAST-Jammu as only the third institution in India to host such a facility, dedicated to preserving vital genetic resources like seeds and plant tissue for breeding and research. He also laid the foundation stone for a 200-bed Farmers’ Hostel and a new Faculty Building equipped with advanced academic infrastructure. In total, 446 degrees were conferred—157 Master’s, 46 Doctorates, and 243 Undergraduate degrees—along with eight gold medals for meritorious students. Distinguished guests included Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Minister for Agriculture Production Javid Ahmad Dar, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary Shailendra Kumar, Vice Chancellor Dr. B.N. Tripathi, legislators, members of the University Council, and senior faculty. In his closing address, Sinha urged young scientists to focus on smart farming solutions, leveraging advances in seed production, pest management, food processing, and farm mechanisation to open new avenues in product development and quality control. “The resolution of Lab to Land has been realised to make small and marginal farmers self-reliant,” he remarked, calling for continued innovation to secure sustainable agricultural growth and economic empowerment in the region.
LG Manoj Sinha Lauds Women’s Agricultural Innovation at SKUAST-Jammu
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