4 Aug: In a powerful confluence of tradition and transformation, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha delivered a thought-provoking address at the 9th Convocation of SKUAST-Jammu, marking a milestone not only for the institution’s silver jubilee but also for the evolving trajectory of agriculture in the Union Territory.
With 446 degrees conferred and a moment of pride as 7 of 8 gold medalists and 32 of 35 PhD/Post-Graduate merit awardees were women, the event emerged as a vibrant showcase of Nari Shakti in agriculture—a point LG Sinha highlighted as both inspirational and indicative of a broader shift toward women-led development in the sector.
The convocation was more than a ceremonial gathering. It was a platform where vision met validation. The LG reiterated the UT administration’s commitment to transforming Jammu & Kashmir’s agriculture model from “Beej se Bazar Tak”—a comprehensive overhaul from seed innovation to market readiness. This transformation, as he emphasized, has been reinforced by PM Narendra Modi’s focus on farmer welfare, risk mitigation, and farmer-industry partnerships through flagship initiatives like HADP and JKCIP.
A significant milestone was the inauguration of a state-of-the-art Ex-Situ Gene Bank—only the third of its kind in the country. The facility will act as a genetic vault, preserving invaluable seeds, tissue, and germplasm outside their natural habitat—ensuring biodiversity conservation and breeding excellence for generations to come.
LG Sinha also laid the foundation stone of a 200-bedded Farmers’ Hostel and a modern Faculty Building—physical symbols of the administration’s commitment to academic excellence and farmer engagement.
The LG’s message to the graduates was clear and future-facing: embrace smart farming, food processing, seed innovation, and mechanization not just as buzzwords but as tools to empower smallholders and transform rural economies. In a time when climate uncertainties and market disruptions loom large, this generation of agri-scientists holds the key to resilience.
As Jammu and Kashmir continues to reimagine its agrarian landscape, the convocation at SKUAST-Jammu stood as a testimony to knowledge, gender equity, and policy convergence—all working together toward a self-reliant, tech-driven, and inclusive rural future.
