Chief Minister Omar Abdullah attended the live streaming of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address from Bhagalpur, Bihar, marking the release of the 19th installment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. The event was held at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), Shalimar Campus. As Chief Guest, the Chief Minister joined participants, including Minister for Agriculture Production Javaid Ahmad Dar, Members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly representing Hazratbal, Sonawar and Chanapora constituencies, as well as progressive, marginal & small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs from various parts of the district.
Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Nazir Ahmad Ganai; Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production, Shalender Kumar; Commissioner Secretary, Science & Technology, Saurabh Bhagat; and other senior officials were also present at the event. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister commended the innovative farmers recognized during the event, stating, “Their contributions in adopting progressive techniques, particularly in natural and organic farming would be instrumental in transforming the agricultural landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He added that the government remains committed to creating a farmer-friendly ecosystem that promotes agricultural sustainability and long-term growth. Earlier, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the Agri-Tech Exhibition organized by SKUAST-K.
The exhibition featured a wide array of stalls displayed by successful farmers, progressive cultivators, agripreneurs, agri-industrialists, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and various university-led initiatives. While inspecting over 100 stalls, the Chief Minister observed exhibits highlighting farmers’ welfare schemes, advanced agricultural inputs, farm machinery, and organic products.
He also visited start-ups led by SKUAST-K students and faculty, commending their role in driving agricultural innovation. Interacting with agripreneurs, agri-industrialists, and FPOs, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasized the importance of such exhibitions, noting, “These platforms provide farmers with access to reliable, updated, and practical information, empowering them to adopt modern and sustainable farming practices.”
He was briefed on key exhibits focused on natural and organic farming, as well as Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged products unique to the region. The exhibition also featured live demonstrations of advanced farming technologies, aimed at equipping farmers with modern tools and methods to enhance productivity and sustainability.