Chief Minister Highlights Vast Potential of Agriculture and Allied Sectors at Startup Outreach Programme in Jammu
BuzzBytes
Jammu, March 5:
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday underscored the vast potential of agriculture and allied sectors in Jammu and Kashmir, saying initiatives like the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) are helping nurture a vibrant startup ecosystem and innovation-driven enterprises in the Union Territory.
The Chief Minister was addressing a Startup Outreach Programme organised under JKCIP at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu, jointly hosted by the university and the Agriculture Production Department of the Jammu and Kashmir government.
The programme was attended by Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmed Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu B. N. Tripathi, Mission Director of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme Sandeep Kumar, Director Research S. K. Gupta and Registrar and Dean Faculty of Agriculture Amit Kumar, along with faculty members, entrepreneurs, startup founders and students from several colleges across the Jammu division.
Addressing the gathering, Omar Abdullah said the youth must move beyond the traditional mindset of seeking government jobs and instead explore entrepreneurship and innovation in agriculture and allied sectors.
“When we decide what kind of industry should be set up and where the potential lies, agriculture stands out as the sector with the greatest possibilities of success,” the Chief Minister said.
He noted that many people outside Jammu and Kashmir assume that tourism is the sole driver of the region’s economy.
“When I tell people that in our SGDP agriculture and horticulture are equally significant alongside tourism, they are surprised. They have no idea how strong our agricultural ecosystem is. Agriculture and allied sectors such as horticulture, fisheries and apiculture together form a vast economic network,” he said.
Highlighting the limitations of government employment, the Chief Minister candidly told students that not everyone could secure a government job.
“If I stand up and say that every one of you will get a government job, within a year I will prove myself wrong. Because the truth is that all of you cannot get government jobs. Some will, but many will not. So what will the rest do?” he asked.
Referring to the region’s economic realities, Omar Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir must develop industries based on its existing strengths.
“If we had coal under the ground or iron ore or oil like some other regions, perhaps we could have set up big factories here. But that is not our reality. We will have to build industries based on what we already have,” he said, stressing that agriculture and allied activities offer the most sustainable growth path.
The Chief Minister said traditional farming practices alone may not be sufficient to sustain livelihoods and called for greater emphasis on value addition and modern agricultural entrepreneurship.
“There was a time when our youth were deeply connected with traditional farming, but gradually their focus shifted away because agriculture appeared uncertain due to weather disruptions and market challenges,” he said.
He added that programmes such as the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), JKCIP and Mission YUVA have been designed to transform agriculture into a modern, technology-driven sector.
“The land that we have will remain limited, and agricultural land is shrinking compared to what existed twenty or thirty years ago. The question therefore is how to keep agriculture viable. The answer lies in value addition, innovation and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Citing dairy production as an example, the Chief Minister highlighted the need to increase processing and value addition.
“In Jammu and Kashmir, we process only about six to seven percent of the milk we produce. Compare that with Gujarat, where nearly ninety-three percent of milk undergoes processing. When milk is converted into products like paneer, khoya or other dairy items, its value increases manifold,” he said.
He also pointed to opportunities in sectors such as meat production, fisheries, honey, fruits, vegetables and floriculture.
Referring to a young innovator honoured at the event, the Chief Minister said small innovations could lead to viable business opportunities.
“The young girl we felicitated today noticed that the shelf life of flowers here was only about three days. By improving packaging techniques, the same flowers can now last for fifteen days. Jammu is a city of temples and flowers will always be in demand here. This is how innovation creates business opportunities,” he said.
Encouraging students to pursue entrepreneurship without fear of failure, Omar Abdullah said innovation often involves risks.
“You do not necessarily need a government job to succeed. What you need is intention, an idea and the passion to do something meaningful. After that, we as a government and institutions like this university are here to support you,” he said.
Drawing inspiration from global innovators, he added, “Some people get ideas even while sleeping. You may be inspired by entrepreneurs like Elon Musk. His rockets worth billions sometimes explode in the sky, but he does not see that as failure. He says he learns as much from the explosion as from success.”
“Do not be afraid of failure. Be afraid of not trying. If you fail, we will help you rise again. Try, innovate and move forward—we are here to help you achieve success,” the Chief Minister said.
On the occasion, Omar Abdullah released four publications, felicitated two startups and two Farmers’ Producer Organisations for their achievements, and launched 808 new Kisan Khidmat Ghars (KKGs) aimed at strengthening grassroots-level agricultural services across Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, the Chief Minister visited an exhibition set up at the university campus where he interacted with students, entrepreneurs and representatives of Farmers’ Producer Organisations, appreciating their innovative ideas and encouraging them to transform agriculture into a modern enterprise-driven sector.
