SKUAST-K helms MeitY’s Agri-excellence programme

Srinagar, July 11: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, officially kicked off its ambitious Agri-Excellence Program on “Application of Electronics & ICT in Himalayan Region Crop Management” in New Delhi.According to a statement issued here, the ground-breaking initiative aims to harness the power of technology to transform agriculture in the Himalayan region, particularly focusing on high-value crops in Jammu & Kashmir.The programme is spearheaded by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, serving as the nodal institution. It brings together a consortium of leading technical and research organizations, including C-DAC Kolkata, CSIR-CMERI Durgapur, CMTI Bengaluru, CSIR-CMERI Ludhiana, and C-DAC Mohali. The initiative received crucial backing from MeitY, with active involvement from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), J&K government, and various industry partners.At the outset of kickoff meeting, Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator R&D, MeitY, underscored the national significance of developing ICT and automation-based solutions for high-value crops in the Himalayan belt. The Agri-Excellence program is specifically designed to transition Jammu & Kashmir’s agriculture from a resource-constrained and labor-intensive model to a technologically advanced one, with an initial focus on saffron, apple, and walnut.Project teams from SKUAST-K and partner institutions presented detailed implementation plans, timelines, and expected deliverables.The technologies being developed are set to significantly reduce manual effort, improve precision and quality, and create seamless, end-to-end digitised solutions from “field to market.” This will ultimately enhance the income and competitiveness of regional farmers and producers.Beyond technological development, the program also features a robust start-up and innovation promotion vertical. This includes Agri Grand Challenges, Hackathons, incubation, and mentorship activities, all designed to empower the youth and agri-tech entrepreneurs.