Agriculture Summit & Kisan Mela 2026: Feb 11-13
Dr. Parveen Kumar*
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu under the dynamic leadership of Prof. B. N. Tripathi, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor is witnessing a huge metamorphosis in the form of distinct and transformative initiatives focusing on profitability and sustainability, inclusivity and outreach, innovation and entrepreneurship and mobilization & empowerment. The target group comprises of the farmers, including farm women, innovators, entrepreneurs and aspiring youths. Ensuring that the vision and mission of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor percolates deeper down to the grassroots level, Directorate of Extension headed by Prof. Amrish Vaid has been leading from the front through its nine Krishi Vigyan Kendras working in different districts of the division in different agro-climatic zones. The KVKs are entrusted with the responsibility of extension and dissemination of sustainable technologies, refinement of technologies, awareness of different government schemes, mobilization of farming communities through various collectives, facilitating marketing support, partnerships and convergence with line departments and all other works as allotted to these front line extension institutes from time to time. One of important platform for dissemination of technologies and sensitization and awareness of the farmers is the Farmers’ Fair or Kisan Mela. Every agriculture university uses this opportunity and organizes such type of melas at different periodicity for the farming community of their region. Carrying forward its tradition of pro-farming endeavors, SKUAST-Jammu also being the leading university of north India is also organizing a three days long Agriculture Summit and Farmers’ Fair w.e.f Feb. 11-13 at its main campus Chatha, Jammu.
AI-enabled Advanced Agriculture: The visionary Vice Chancellor of the University has decided to organize the mela with the theme ‘AI-enabled Advanced Agriculture.’ The theme of the mela thus specifies that special focus will be on technologies which are based on Artificial Intelligence and that come with the added advantage of precision, timeliness, resource use efficiency and real time solutions for the issues confronting the farming community in agriculture and allied sectors in the country. Digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence have given the world a new developmental paradigm. With more than 9 billion people predicted to populate the planet by 2050, finding better and smarter ways to grow food is essential. We thus need new ways to grow more food more sustainably and profitably by applying digital technologies such as data science, advanced sensors in the field and from space, digital communication channels, and automation on the field. Today agriculture is also witnessing what is called ‘Digital Farming or Digitalisation’. Digital Farming encompasses ‘ICT and data ecosystems to support the development and delivery of timely, targeted information and services to make farming profitable and sustainable while delivering safe nutritious and affordable food for all’. Use of various AI tools in agriculture has also emerged as another revolution, more so for the large numbers of the world’s smallholder farmers. Nearly a third of the global population relies on agriculture for a living, and growth in this sector has been shown to be at least twice as effective at reducing poverty as growth coming from other sectors. Thus use of AI in agriculture has to be promoted for advancement of agriculture. Among various AI tools are Internet of Things (IoT), precision Farming, Drones and Robots. The use of sensors, cameras, and other devices to turn every element and action involved in farming into data. Weather, moisture, plant health, mineral status, chemical applications, pest presence and much more can all be turned into large data sets that allow big data engineers to draw out insights about the farm at varying levels of granularity via software algorithms. The AI technologies also ensure that information collected about that unit is measured, collected, analyzed, and actioned for the same location and is differentiated from all of the other surrounding assets. AI technologies have the potential to improve agricultural productivity even in areas with limited resources.
The three days long event of the University besides focusing on AI enabled agriculture will also provide a platform to all the relevant stakeholders including farmers, farm women, students, youths, entrepreneurs, private players, and input dealers, officers/officials from line departments and financial institutions and of different agencies from all across the country where they can witness, exchange sell, purchase and showcase their products ideas and sustainable technologies. With the SKUAST-Jammu having important MoUs with leading foreign universities, international participation is also expected in the summit. Organized with the active collaboration of all its faculties, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, research institutes and all the constituent units of the University, it is expected that the mela will witness a footfall of many thousands.
The event will specially focus on sustainable agricultural practices and approaches like Organic and Natural Farming. The present government is also focusing a lot on Natural farming. In the next 2 years, one crore farmers will be initiated into natural farming supported by certification and branding. A flower show, a vegetable & fruit show at the mela will also be a point of attraction where the growers will display their products. Dog show will also be a great fun and learning experience for the pet lovers. The participants can win exciting prizes also. Sports are also an important part of our day to day lives. The Mela will also host sports events and chaff cutting competitions especially for rural youths where they will get engaged in various sports to prove how much physically fit they are.
The mela will also provide an opportunity to visitors to purchase all kinds of inputs/planting material and farm implements being displayed by many input dealers and private agencies. The summit will focus on technologies demonstrating the organic inputs like Bio fertilizers, Bio-control agents, bio organic nutrient management, organic waste treatment and microbial preparations like Bijamrita, and Jeevamrita. Farmers of the region including farm women and youths who have earned a name through development of various products/technologies/practices will also be a part of this mela depicting and showcasing their innovations/products. Different collective organizations i. e Self Help groups/Farmer Producer Companies and Farmer Producer Organizations will also participate in this event with various kinds of prototypes/products they have developed. Students from different educational institutes of the region will also be attending the mela to learn more about agriculture. Shri Anna i. e Millets called as ‘Super Foods’ and ‘Food of Future’ will also be an important feature of this summit. Various types of ethnic value added food products made from different traditional crops including millets will be at display. The country has become the Startup capital of world with so many startups coming up in agriculture and allied sectors. The startups have an important role in employment and income generation. This mela will also give an opportunity to the young entrepreneurs to depict their business models and prototypes.
Lack of awareness about different government schemes is an important constraint for the farming community to avail the benefits of these schemes. SKUAST-Jammu has taken special care of this. To ensure that the farming community becomes aware of all schemes related to them, different allied departments as well as financial institutions like NABARD, J&K Bank, SBI, JKEDA; IFFCO, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Jammu Kashmir Academy of Arts Culture and Languages (JKAACL) and many other organizations will be there to guide and aware all. The farming community will be able to avail the benefits by on spot registration.
There will be expert sessions between farmers and scientists and live demonstrations including use of Drones in Agriculture, Farmer Scientist interactions, Field visits. Special sessions on empowerment of women in Agriculture, Industry-Academia Linkages, Post-harvest processing and value addition and on many other aspects related to farm sector will also be a key feature of the mela.
To conclude, the mega event is going to be a one stop solution for the farming community. All of must save the date and be a part of this grand occasion to learn, update and explore new ideas, skills and opportunities.
The author writes on agriculture and social issues; can be reached at [email protected]
