SRINAGAR: Out of 150 students conferred with gold medals during the 6th Convocation Ceremony of SKUAST Kashmir on Thursday, 115 were women, with 334 out of 445 Certificates of Merit also going to female students — a remarkable feat hailed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha as a reflection of “a bright future for Jammu and Kashmir and the nation.”
Addressing the convocation at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), LG Sinha lauded the growing role of women in science and academia. “I am proud to see our daughters breaking barriers and achieving success in Agricultural Science and Technology,” he said.
The convocation was graced by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was the chief guest. J&K Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, and other senior officials were also in attendance.
In total, 5,250 degrees were awarded, of which 2,661 went to women students. LG Sinha commended SKUAST Kashmir for “creating a competent and competitive human resource” and credited the university with reshaping the farm sector in the Union Territory. “This reflects a major step forward for women’s empowerment in higher education and agriculture,” he added.
Highlighting ongoing reforms in the agriculture and allied sectors, LG Sinha said the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) launched in J&K had become “a role model for agricultural revolution across the country.” He also urged the graduates to embrace innovation and contribute to sectors such as agri-tech, food technology, and sustainable farming.
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself,” LG Sinha said, urging the students to carry forward the knowledge and values acquired during their studies to transform India’s agricultural economy.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in his remarks, reiterated the Centre’s commitment to making J&K a “hub of horticulture,” and expressed his admiration for the natural beauty of the region and the warmth of its people. He also laid the foundation stone for a new girls’ hostel at the university campus.
Minister Chouhan also highlighted several key agricultural initiatives, including the planned ₹150-crore ‘Clean Plant Centre’ in Srinagar under the MIDH scheme, and the creation of a tissue culture lab to boost saffron production in Kashmir.
SKUAST Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai presented the university report, detailing recent academic and research achievements. He also noted the university’s strides in adopting cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, gene editing, and speed breeding in its academic programmes.
The convocation was attended by a host of dignitaries including Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare J&K, Shri Javid Ahmad Dar, Education Minister Ms Sakina Itoo, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary of Agriculture Production Shailendra Kumar, and other prominent citizens, faculty members, and students.
The event concluded with celebrations of academic excellence and a reaffirmation of the university’s commitment to inclusive, research-driven agricultural education aimed at empowering future generations of J&K.
