Srinagar: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir organised the Agriculture Innovation Summit 2024 on Monday. Agriculture Minister, Javid Ahmad Dar, was the chief guest at the event that brought together leading minds from academia, industry, and governance to explore innovative solutions for advancing agriculture startups and businesses in Jammu and Kashmir.
The summit, organised by SKUAST-K and Mission Directorate HADP under Project 20 ‘Innovative Extension Approaches for Promoting Agriculture in J&K’, featured a number of activities, including, startup pitching events, panel discussions, flagging off of the Student Rural Internship-Mobile Agri-clinics by the minister and visit of SKUAST-K and line department startup stalls.
The opening ceremony held at the Nund Rashi Hall was marked by the premiere of the HADP Impact documentary.
Agriculture Minister, Javid Ahmad Dar, in his keynote address, lauded SKUAST-K’s leadership in driving agricultural innovation and emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting youth-led agripreneurship. He praised the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme formulators for conceptualising such a “wonderful program that will revolutionise agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir”.
While stressing the enhanced collaboration between SKUAST-K and the line departments, the minister said there is a need for more grassroots connect, translating research into practice and scaling innovative solutions across the J&K. He said it is the responsibility of this university to give new ideas to the people, farming community and students so that agriculture becomes lucrative for all.
Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K Prof Nazir Ahmad Gani, while welcoming the minister to SKUAST-K, gave an overview of the university and apprised him about various programs of the university.
Mission Director HADP Rahul Yadav briefed about the functioning of HADP and JKCIP. CGM NABARD, Partho Saha, also spoke at the occasion. He stressed on making the innovation relevant for the farming community. Director Research SKUAST-K Prof Haroon R Naik presented the vote of thanks.
Directors from the Line Departments, SKUAST-K faculty members, students, innovators, startup founders and farmers where also present at the occasion. The minister also felicitated the innovators who pitched their ideas at the occasion.
