JULY 28: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Information Technology, and Science & Technology, Shri Satish Sharma, emphasized the pivotal role of scientific innovation, technology integration, and climate-resilient agricultural practices in transforming Jammu & Kashmir’s agricultural landscape into a sustainable and economically viable sector.
He was addressing the Foundation Day celebration of Unati Agri Allied & Marketing Multi-State Cooperative Society Limited, organized in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology, J&K UT, under the theme “Sustainable Agriculture through Scientific Interventions.” The event convened scientists, policy makers, farmers, entrepreneurs, and youth from across the region.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s resolve to empower farmers by promoting modern farming methods, enhancing access to renewable energy solutions, and fostering collaboration among research institutions, cooperatives, and rural communities.
“Agriculture must evolve beyond subsistence and adopt models that are smart, scalable, and sustainable. Our focus is to enable farmers to become tech-savvy, self-reliant, and economically empowered through innovation and policy support,” he stated.
He praised the efforts of Unati Agri Allied Cooperative and the Science & Technology Department for establishing a forward-looking platform aimed at transforming agriculture through climate-smart technologies. He assured continued government support for such initiatives, promising greater outreach, funding, and policy facilitation to unlock the sector’s full potential.
The event featured several eminent speakers, including Dr. Jatinder Kour Arora, Advisor, PU–IIT Ropar (Northern Cluster), Dr. Nasir Shah, Additional Director, JKSTIC, and Deepak Sharma, Regional Head, JAKEDA, along with officials from the Agriculture Department and other stakeholders.
Key highlights included sessions on organic farming, regenerative agriculture, biotechnology, and precision farming, as well as demonstrations on the use of solar energy in agriculture under the KUSUM scheme. Participants were also briefed on opportunities in aroma farming, agri-entrepreneurship, and innovation-driven agribusiness.
Dr. Nasir Shah emphasized the need for stronger connections between scientific research and on-ground practices. Dr. Jatinder Kour Arora called for a convergence model that links research bodies, cooperatives, and startups to scale up sustainable agriculture across different agro-climatic regions.
Farmers, students, and young agri-preneurs were sensitized about various government schemes and the potential of solar-powered irrigation and high-value aromatic crops in reshaping agriculture in J&K.
