Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) on Monday inaugurated a week-long capacity-building program for Chief Executive Officers, Chairmen, and Board of Directors of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) from the Kashmir division. The initiative is part of HADP Project 20: ‘Innovative Extension Approaches for Promoting Agriculture in J&K’, and is being conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad.
The inaugural session, held at the Registrar Meeting Hall, Shalimar campus, brought together FPO leaders committed to transforming agriculture in Jammu & Kashmir. Prof. Masood Saleem Mir, Associate Director and Principal Investigator of HADP-20, welcomed the participants and emphasized the vital role of efficient FPOs in improving farmer livelihoods and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
The program will be conducted in two batches of 35 participants each. Designed by SKUAST-K’s Directorate of Research and the Department of Agriculture Production, Kashmir, in partnership with MANAGE, the training covers crucial areas such as legal frameworks, compliance, financial management, and business planning for FPOs.
Day one, led by Company Secretary Sushant Kulkarni, focused on legal and compliance issues—including FPO registration under Company Law 2019 and the Self-Reliant Cooperative Act 1999, roles of directors, shareholder rights, and procedures for Annual General Meetings.
This initiative builds on earlier efforts, including a Training of Trainers (ToT) program held in November 2024. At that time, SKUAST-K Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai stressed that FPOs are key to transforming subsistence agriculture into a sustainable, commercial sector, and to realizing the vision of J&K as a model bioeconomy.
The ongoing training will also explore institutional policies, financial systems, governance practices, and legal requirements. In the coming days, sessions by resource person Sanjeev Rathod will cover cooperative values, collective strategies, and business development planning. Interactive methods such as case studies, group discussions, and experience sharing will be used to enhance learning.
The collaboration between SKUAST-K, the Department of Agriculture Production, and MANAGE signals a strong commitment to building a resilient agricultural economy in Jammu & Kashmir, ultimately aimed at boosting farmer income and regional self-reliance.