SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha delivered an address at the 25th Foundation Day celebration of SKUAST-Jammu, held at Baba Jitto Auditorium on Wednesday.
During his speech, the Lt Governor extended congratulations to the Vice Chancellor, faculty members, and students on this significant occasion.
He highlighted the reforms implemented in 2020 to modernize SKUAST-Jammu, catering to the evolving workforce needs in Agriculture & Allied Sectors, fostering entrepreneurship-driven research, and establishing a robust interdisciplinary ecosystem.
Over the past three years, the University has achieved numerous milestones. Its primary focus has been on developing a sustainable innovation ecosystem within the Agriculture & Allied domain. Additionally, three new faculties in Agricultural Engineering, Dairy Technology, and Horticulture & Forestry have been established to foster synergy between cutting-edge technologies, skills, and research, thereby facilitating rapid structural changes in farming.
“Agriculture is the most critical and sensitive sector for the economy and is vital for humanity’s survival. To address a wide range of global challenges impacting people’s lives, Agriculture Universities must be seamlessly connected to the global knowledge network to rapidly adopt the latest knowledge,” Sinha said.
The Lt Governor also shared insights into policy reforms and technological advancements made in recent years to revitalise the Agriculture and allied sectors at SKUAST-Jammu.
The Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) has brought about a cultural shift in farming, encouraging agricultural innovation and knowledge application. Furthermore, it has encouraged collaboration among change agents, leading to the establishment of a fully-fledged agri-business incubation centre for new startups.
Sinha emphasised the importance of tapping into the knowledge-research capital of SKUAST to bolster the 29 projects currently underway through HADP. These efforts aim to develop mechanisms for acquiring tools to address future challenges related to food security, nutrition, and sustainable management of natural resources.
The Lt Governor called upon Agriculture scientists and Universities to adopt a holistic approach, focusing on new technologies and farm innovations that can provide a competitive advantage for Jammu & Kashmir and the entire country, contributing to a sustainable global future.
He highlighted the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, which prioritises climate-resilient crops, accelerated innovations, and investments to enhance productivity while reducing waste. Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture were also emphasised, with an encouragement for farmers to adopt niche, water-efficient, high-value crops.
The Lt Governor encouraged young scientists to explore new opportunities and inventions for sustained ecological growth, maintaining a balance between the market and the soil, ensuring that agriculture remains a robust foundation for development.
Additionally, he commended SKUAST-Jammu’s significant contribution to the G20 Summit and urged the University to chart a roadmap for the next 25 years.
Dr B N Tripathi, Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST-Jammu, highlighted the University’s remarkable achievements and underscored the pivotal role of the Holistic Agricultural Development Program in transforming agriculture.
During the event, the Lt Governor inaugurated various facilities at the University, including the Silver Jubilee Park, Apartment, Faculty Club, and unveiled the Rajat Jayanti Smarak to commemorate its 25th Foundation Day. He also launched the Green Education Program, International Helpdesk, and the Academic Management System (AMS) Portal.
The event included the felicitation of former employees of SKUAST-Jammu for their dedicated service to the University. Publications on the success stories of startups from SKUAST-Jammu, the International Helpdesk Brochure, and a Commemorative Souvenir were also released.
Present at the occasion were Bharat Bhushan, Chairman District Development Council, Jammu; Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production Department; Vice Chancellors of various Universities, HoDs, scientists, faculty members, staff, and students.
