The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir is making significant strides in agricultural innovation, research, and education, positioning itself as a hub of knowledge and cultural diversity.

In interaction with the media, Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-K Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai highlighted the university’s efforts in transforming the region’s agricultural landscape.
The research on newly planted trees, he said, has shown that they could start producing fruits within just two to three years, a development that could benefit farmers significantly.
Greenhouse facilities established in the village are also proving advantageous for local cultivators, offering them modern methods to improve productivity, he said.
The VC emphasized that SKUAST’s mission is to make Jammu and Kashmir economically stronger through agriculture though he acknowledged that such transformation is a gradual process.
“We are working to achieve sustainable growth in agriculture but this will not happen overnight,” he said
Ganai also deliberated on the legacy of India’s Green Revolution in the 1960s, which brought tremendous progress in agriculture, and highlighted contemporary challenges such as climate change.
He pointed out that saffron production in the region has drastically reduced. Fruit growers relying on chemical pesticides for coloring, which are harmful to health.
On the economic front, the VC noted that Jammu and Kashmir’s GDP stands at around 4 billion US dollars, underscoring the importance of boosting agricultural productivity and innovation to strengthen the region’s economy.
He underlined SKUAST’s role in fostering innovation and international collaboration.
Muska Budju rice, according to VC, is set to enter international markets.
With a focus on research-driven agriculture, student-led innovation, and international outreach, he said SKUAST Kashmir is steadily shaping the region’s future, blending scientific excellence with economic and cultural growth. “Students from across India and abroad are actively contributing to research and knowledge creation, making SKUAST a hub of cultural and academic diversity.”
Emphasising the need to transform mindsets, the VC said, “Our goal is to develop students into job creators rather than job seekers. Agriculture in J&K holds vast potential for innovation when supported with skills and seed funding—up to ₹50 lakh for promising start-ups—which the university facilitates.”
The SKUAST-K VC credited the World Bank–supported development plan for enabling early infrastructure and incubation facilities that later aligned seamlessly with the mandates of NEP-2020. “SKUAST has emerged as a model for agricultural universities across the country striving to integrate research with entrepreneurial outcomes,” he added.