SRINAGAR: Emphasising the urgency of bridging the gap between high-end academic research and ground-level farming, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha called for deploying technology-driven agricultural solutions directly to rural communities, directing the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) to roll out its newly unveiled smart irrigation system among farmers within one year.
Inaugurating four state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities at the SKUAST-K Shalimar campus, the Lieutenant Governor stated that scientific innovations and institutional research must translate into measurable socio-economic progress for agrarian households, especially marginal and small cultivators across Jammu and Kashmir.
“The authentic success of modern technological tools and research will only be realised when their tangible benefits reach smallholder farmers working in the fields and bring about substantial increments in their household earnings,” the Lieutenant Governor remarked.
Among the key facilities inaugurated was an advanced solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT)-based irrigation and fertigation system. The automated solution regulates water discharge and precision nutrient delivery based on real-time soil moisture and crop requirements. Sinha instructed university scientists to take the setup into operational field conditions, actively engaging rural growers to refine the technology based on local feedback.
He further stressed the importance of converting complex sensor readings and agronomic data into actionable, easy-to-understand advisories in local languages, ensuring broad digital dissemination across grassroots agricultural communities.
Addressing agri-entrepreneurship, Sinha urged SKUAST-K to mentor and incubate students to establish viable commercial enterprises across specialized domains such as certified seed testing, cold-chain logistics, post-harvest preservation, and precision soil testing.
“Data and technology must become equal partners of the modern farmer. Our collective objective should be to establish at least 100 student-led enterprises and viable startups incubated right here on the SKUAST-K campus over the next twelve months,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor additionally inaugurated a Prototype Design and Development Centre, dedicated to engineering customized agricultural implements; a Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship to finance and guide student ventures; and an integrated Health and Wellness Centre for the campus community.
Touching upon growing ecological challenges posed by erratic weather patterns and global warming, Sinha underscored the indispensability of sustainable farming methods, water conservation, and soil preservation. He noted that the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) continues to serve as an economic backbone, catalyzing sustainable agricultural expansion across the Union Territory.
During the event, the Lieutenant Governor also released an illustrative coffee-table book commemorating SKUAST-K’s institutional milestones and launched a Multi-Tier Data Management and Accreditation Workflow System.
Published by True Roots Media