Danishwar Hameed
Kulgam, June 14, 2025:Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) today organized Paddy Transplantation Day under the banner of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan-2025 at the Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops (MRCFC), Khudwani in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
The prestigious event was graced by Shri Manoj Sinha Ji, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, as the Chief Guest. He was joined by a host of dignitaries including Shri Javid Ahmad Dar, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture Production Department, and Ms. Sakeena Masood Itoo, Hon’ble Minister for Health and Medical Education Departments. Several Members of Parliament, MLAs, senior government officials, and a large gathering of enthusiastic farmers from across the region participated in the event.
The program aimed to showcase the latest scientific interventions in paddy cultivation and promote farmer-scientist interaction under the broader mission of agricultural transformation envisioned in Viksit Bharat 2047.
During his address, LG Manoj Sinha reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to agricultural development but also offered a candid clarification regarding the scope of his authority. “Only the police fall directly under my control; all other sectors like agriculture, power, roads, and water are governed by the elected government,” he stated, while responding to farmer requests for inclusion of horticulture under the Crop Insurance Scheme.
His remarks came during a broader public outreach effort, where farmers voiced long-pending demands, especially regarding institutional support and disaster risk management in agriculture.
As a mark of respect, a one-minute silence was observed at the start of the event to mourn the victims of the recent tragedy in Ahmedabad, drawing a somber note to an otherwise vibrant agricultural showcase.
The Paddy Transplantation Day initiative aligns with SKUAST-K’s ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between research and rural practice, empowering farmers with resilient techniques and informed policy advocacy.
