Srinagar, Feb 11: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on Wednesday, strongly dismissed what he described as “misinformation” surrounding the recent Indo-US interim trade deal, asserting that the Government of India is firmly committed to protecting the interests of farmers, including those in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day ‘Agriculture Summit and Kisan Mela’ organised by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, the Lieutenant Governor said the Centre has put in place robust safeguards to ensure that the domestic agriculture and horticulture sectors remain insulated from any adverse impact of international trade agreements.
“Attempts are being made to create unnecessary apprehensions. The Government of India is fully resolved to safeguard farmers’ interests and ensure that their production and livelihoods remain protected,” he said, adding that the ‘Agriculture First’ policy will not only strengthen the rural economy but also contribute to building a developed India and an ‘Aatmanirbhar’ J&K.
His remarks come a day after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah voiced concerns over the interim India-US trade deal, warning that duty-free imports of dry fruits and horticulture produce from the United States could severely affect Jammu and Kashmir’s economy.
“What we have is horticulture produce like dry fruits, walnut, almond, saffron, apple and kiwi. If these items begin entering duty-free from the US, Jammu and Kashmir is bound to suffer losses,” Abdullah had said, underlining the UT’s heavy dependence on horticulture exports.
Addressing these concerns indirectly, the Lieutenant Governor maintained that the Centre’s policies are designed to strengthen domestic production rather than weaken it. He said agriculture remains a strategic sector for both national advancement and human welfare, capable of ensuring stability even amid global economic turbulence.
Emphasising technological transformation, Sinha directed officials and agricultural scientists to adopt cutting-edge innovations to boost productivity and sustainability. He called for deployment of IoT sensors and satellite imagery to create digital farm twins, enabling precision irrigation systems capable of reducing water consumption by 50–60 percent.
He further advocated the development of farmer-centric AI tools to increase crop yields by 15–30 percent, cut input costs by up to 50 percent, and provide real-time soil, nutrient and crop health data to small and marginal farmers.
“AI technology will revolutionise agriculture and allied sectors. What we need are affordable, high-impact solutions tailored specifically for small and marginal farmers in J&K,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor directed the establishment of village-level seed banks stocked with climate-resilient local varieties to strengthen food security and resilience against climate change. He stressed the importance of circular farming models where crop residue is converted into high-protein animal feed and organic manure, thereby enhancing soil health while reducing external input dependency.
He also emphasised expanding agro-processing infrastructure across all 20 districts of the Union Territory and connecting Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs) directly with consumers. This, he said, would help farmers capture greater value margins often lost to intermediaries.
“Civilisation’s fate hangs on every seed sown in the soil. Agriculture will continue to guarantee progress regardless of global challenges,” he remarked.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor launched the Crop Cultivation Scheme of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. He also inaugurated the Bayer Learning Centre for Advanced Agricultural Learning and Innovation, a Branding Centre, and a Pesticide Quality Control Laboratory at SKUAST Jammu.
The summit featured exhibitions of modern farm technologies, interaction sessions between scientists and farmers, and felicitation of winners of the Startup First Awards under SKUAST-Jammu AgriThon 2.0. Several publications on agriculture and allied sectors were also released during the event.
