JAMMU, AUGUST 21: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday inaugurated a series of new infrastructure facilities at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, and addressed the launch of the Startup Outreach Programme under JKCIP, calling for greater innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-driven solutions in agriculture and allied sectors.
The programme brought together researchers, scientists, innovators, young entrepreneurs, farmers, startups, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and students from across the Jammu division.
The newly inaugurated facilities include the Unnati Girls Hostel, Centre for AI and Machine Learning in Agriculture, Centre for Mushroom Research and Innovation, Advanced Sericulture Laboratory, and Centre for Digital Media and Publication.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said the new facilities should not be viewed merely as physical infrastructure but as a commitment towards strengthening the region’s researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and farming communities.
‘J&K Must Innovate for Its Own Problems and Challenges’
Highlighting global advancements in agricultural technology, LG Sinha referred to innovations in countries such as the Netherlands, Israel, New Zealand and Brazil, where technology and entrepreneurship have been used to address specific agricultural and rural challenges.
He, however, cautioned young entrepreneurs against simply copying foreign models and called upon them to develop solutions based on Jammu Kashmir’s own fields, farmers, climate and local challenges.
“Different countries have innovated for their own problems, and now it is time for Jammu Kashmir to innovate for its own questions and challenges,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He observed that agriculture and allied sectors are rapidly emerging as one of the biggest frontiers for innovation and entrepreneurship, offering enormous opportunities for young people.
‘Youth Should Become Job Creators, Not Just Job Seekers’
The Lieutenant Governor said employment aspirations among India’s youth are changing, with an increasing number of young people seeking to create employment opportunities instead of merely waiting for jobs.
He said this transformation is crucial to building a Self-Reliant Jammu Kashmir.
Addressing students, LG Sinha said their university degrees should serve as a starting point for innovation rather than the final destination of their careers.
He stressed that knowledge, curiosity, courage, patience, honesty and sustained hard work can transform ideas into successful startups capable of generating employment and dignity for others.
“The truest meaning of a Self-Reliant Jammu Kashmir is a region where every young citizen becomes an employer in some form, according to their ability and talent,” he said.
Focus on Value Addition, Branding and Digital Markets
The Lieutenant Governor urged young and progressive farmers to move beyond traditional agricultural practices and explore opportunities in cold chains, grading, packaging, regional branding and digital marketplaces.
He said Jammu Kashmir’s agricultural and allied products have the potential to reach major domestic and international markets, including Delhi, Dubai and other destinations, provided greater attention is given to value addition, quality and market connectivity.
LG Calls for Greater Women-Led Entrepreneurship
Emphasising the importance of women’s participation in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, LG Sinha said no entrepreneurship movement or economy could achieve its full potential without women becoming equal partners.
“No entrepreneurship revolution can be complete without the equal and active participation of women,” he said, adding that he wanted to see enterprises led by women, rather than merely having women as participants.
He called for greater support to Self-Help Groups and Farmer Producer Organisations led by women, particularly in accessing finance, technology, markets and research-based solutions.
He also encouraged SKUAST researchers and innovators to support women entrepreneurs who can create further employment opportunities for other women.
SKUAST Urged to Become Bridge Between Labs and Markets
Speaking about the Startup Outreach Programme, the Lieutenant Governor said its objective was to take entrepreneurship and innovation opportunities to farmers and youth in villages, including those who may have had little or no exposure to incubation, mentoring and venture capital.
He noted that some of the most practical solutions to agricultural problems can emerge from people who have experienced those problems themselves.
According to the Lieutenant Governor, SKUAST-Jammu has so far selected more than 150 students for idea incubation and supported 56 promising startups.
He called upon the university to further expand these numbers and develop into a stronger bridge connecting laboratories with markets, scientists with farmers, and technology with ground-level requirements.
“The real success of SKUAST-Jammu will not be measured only by how many students graduate from here, but by how many new ideas are born here, how many solutions are developed, how many enterprises are established and how many farming families benefit from those enterprises,” he said.
LG Gives Four Questions to Students
The Lieutenant Governor asked students to continuously reflect on four questions during their academic journey:
What problem can I solve?
What enterprise can I build?
What value can I add to agriculture?
How many families can benefit from my idea?
He said keeping these questions at the centre of their thinking would help students discover the purpose and direction of their careers.
‘Do Not Make Your Dreams Small’
Encouraging students to remain ambitious, LG Sinha urged them not to allow their circumstances to restrict their aspirations.
“Do not make your dreams small. Do not let your circumstances become the limits of your future. Draw strength from your roots, direction from knowledge, speed from technology, and create new paths with your resolve,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor expressed confidence that Jammu Kashmir would increasingly earn recognition for innovation, agricultural entrepreneurship, science, technology and youth leadership in the coming years.
Eight Startups, FPOs and Rural Enterprises Felicitated
During the programme, the Lieutenant Governor felicitated eight startups, FPOs and cooperative/rural enterprises for their contributions to agriculture, allied sectors, value addition and rural enterprise development.
Four publications were also released on the occasion, including “Policy Document for Promoting Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in J&K,” “Chronicle of Innovation & Startups under RKVY-RAFTAAR, SKUAST-Jammu,” “Value on the Vine: Economic and Market Dynamics of Vegetables,” and “Student’s Rural Exploration Programme (SREP).”
Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Shailendra Kumar; Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu Prof. B.N. Tripathi; Director Extension Dr. Amrish Vaid; Registrar Dr. Anil Kumar; faculty members, senior officials, scientists, students, entrepreneurs, startup representatives, FPOs, cooperatives and other stakeholders were present on the occasion.
