Pushes for digital farm twins, precision irrigation
Advocates seed banks, circular farming, direct FPO market linkages
JAMMU, FEB 11: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today inaugurated the three-day Agriculture Summit and Kisan Mela organised by SKUAST-Jammu and highlighted that the “Agriculture First” policy will pave the way for a Developed India and an Aatma-Nirbhar Jammu & Kashmir.
Emphasising the central role of agriculture, the Lieutenant Governor described agriculture and allied sectors as the ultimate insurance policy that no developing society or nation can afford to ignore.
“Despite relentless challenges, from climate change to economic uncertainty, one truth remains unscathed: agriculture and allied sectors will keep us stable and our citizens prosperous,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Delivering his keynote address on ‘AI-Powered Advanced Agriculture’, the Lieutenant Governor underscored the transformative impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in the agricultural sector. He called for making technology tools affordable and accessible so that small and marginal farmers can strategically plan crop production using real-time weather, soil, and crop data.
“Technology and agricultural development must go hand in hand. Technological progress gives birth to startups, industries, and unicorns, while fields give birth to life itself. Technology creates opportunities; agriculture and allied sectors create survival. Strong agriculture means a strong nation. It is the foundation of national resilience, an advanced economy, and human prosperity,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor directed officials, SKUAST, and experts to deploy IoT sensors and satellite imagery to create digital farm twins that can enable precision irrigation and reduce water usage by 50–60 percent. He also called for the development of farmer-centric AI tools capable of boosting yields by 15–30 percent, cutting input costs by 50 percent, and providing real-time soil health and nutrient data to farmers.
“AI technology will revolutionize agriculture and allied sectors. We need viable, affordable, high-impact solutions designed specifically for small and marginal farmers in J&K,” he added.
Further, the Lieutenant Governor directed the establishment of village-level seed banks stocked with climate-resilient local varieties. He also stressed the need to develop circular farming models where crop waste is converted into high-protein animal feed and manure is reused as organic fertilizer to enhance soil health and reduce dependence on external inputs.
“Scientists and officers must realise that civilization’s fate hangs on every seed sown in the soil. Agriculture is one of the key sectors that secures both national advancement and human welfare. It will continue to guarantee progress regardless of global turbulence,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasised the need to build processing facilities across all 20 districts and connect Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) directly with consumers to promote value-added products and ensure farmers capture margins often lost to middlemen.
Addressing concerns regarding the recent trade agreements, the Lieutenant Governor reiterated that the Government of India remains firmly committed to safeguarding farmers’ interests and has implemented robust measures to ensure their produce and livelihoods remain protected.
He also expressed gratitude to agricultural scientists and the farming community for their relentless efforts, attributing India’s emergence as a global agricultural leader to their dedication and innovation.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor launched the Crop Cultivation Scheme by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India. He also inaugurated the Bayer Learning Centre for Advanced Agricultural Learning & Innovation, a Branding Centre, and a Pesticide Quality Control Laboratory.
The event featured the felicitation of winners of the Startup First Awards under SKUAST-Jammu AgriThon 2.0 and the release of several publications on agriculture and allied sectors.
Javid Ahmad Dar, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Departments; Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Shailendra Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department; Prof. B.N. Tripathi, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu; Padma Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Professor Emeritus and Former Director, IARI, New Delhi; Dr. Amrish Vaid, Director Extension, SKUAST-Jammu; along with heads of departments, agricultural scientists, experts, faculty members, progressive farmers, stakeholders, and senior officials attended the inaugural ceremony.
