Srinagar, Dec 23: SKUAST-K, Directorate of Extension organized a grand celebration of Kisan Samman Diwas to honor the invaluable contributions of farmers who feed the nation. The event, held at the Vice-Chancellor’s secretariat, Shalimar, was a testament to the resilience, innovation, and hard work of progressive farmers, entrepreneurs, and innovators in the agriculture and allied sectors.
Main highlight of the event was the felicitation of three Champion Farmers , each promoted by the KVKs of SKUAST-K in Kashmir Valley; who have excelled in their respective fields and metamorphed into successful entrepreneurs, creating employment opportunities and achieving turnovers in millions. These innovative champion farmers shared their inspiring journeys, showcasing their transformation from resource-poor, subsistence farming to becoming commercial champions and beacon of hope for the unemployed youth of Kashmir valley.
Addressing the august gathering, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazir A. Ganai praised the farmers for their dedication and resilience, particularly during challenging times. He highlighted the pivotal role of SKUAST-K and its KVKs in empowering farmers to adopt innovative practices and technologies. Prof. Ganai underscored the importance of sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices, collective business models like Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and leveraging and convergence of agriculture and allied sectors schemes including HADP and JKCIP to boost productivity and income of farming community. He also emphasized the unique advantage of Jammu & Kashmir’s agricultural landscape, which allows the region to produce off-season crops including fruits, vegetables, flowers etc. for the rest of the nation. Encouraging the use of modern technologies and the entrepreneurial incubation through the SKIIE Centre, he called for a collective approach to overcoming challenges posed by small and marginal landholdings.
