Jammu Tawi, August 4:
Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha today addressed the 9th Convocation of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, marking the University’s 25th anniversary.
Congratulating the graduating students, the Lieutenant Governor also extended his greetings to the faculty, staff, and administration for their dedicated service. He especially lauded the significant role of Nari Shakti in transforming agriculture through innovation and enhanced productivity.
“In areas like climate-smart crops, pest management, biotech solutions, and organic farming, the contributions of women scientists are invaluable,” the LG said. He proudly highlighted that 7 out of 8 gold medalists and 32 out of 35 merit certificate recipients were women. “It is a symbol of the rising influence of Nari Shakti in agriculture. I believe they will drive future innovations for sustainable farming and increasing farmers’ incomes,” he added.
The LG underscored the importance of integrating modern technology and innovation into sustainable agricultural practices. He emphasized the need to prioritize farmer incomes, risk mitigation, and strong farmer-industry linkages, calling these the pillars of agricultural transformation.
“Farmer welfare is the top priority of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The impact of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and JKCIP (Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project) is now clearly visible in J&K. Our mantra has been ‘Beej se Bazar tak’ — complete transformation from seed to market,” the LG stated.
He also urged the new generation of agricultural scientists to focus on smart farming, pointing to advancements in seed technology, pest management, food processing, and farm mechanization as new opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor inaugurated a state-of-the-art Ex-Situ Gene Bank, making SKUAST-Jammu the third institution in the country with such a facility. This gene bank will preserve vital genetic material — seeds, plant tissue, and animal germplasm — for future breeding and research.
He also laid the foundation stones for a 200-bed Farmers’ Hostel and a new Faculty Building with academic facilities.
In total, 446 degrees were awarded during the ceremony, including 157 Masters, 46 Doctorates, and 243 Undergraduate degrees. Eight students were conferred Gold Medals for academic excellence.
The event was attended by Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah, Agriculture Minister Shri Javid Ahmad Dar, Chief Secretary Shri Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary Shailendra Kumar, Vice Chancellor Dr. B.N. Tripathi, MLAs, faculty members, and students.
