Grow jobs, not just crops: CM Omar to SKUAST-J graduates
Jammu, Aug 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu (SKUAST-J), on Monday urged the graduating varsity students to grow jobs, not just crops.
Addressing the 9th convocation of SKUAST-J at Baba Jitto Auditorium, Chatha, CM Omar, while underscoring the critical role of agriculture in shaping the economic future of J&K, called upon the next generation of agri-professionals to reimagine farming as an enterprise of innovation, sustainability, and rural empowerment.
Congratulating the graduating scholars, he said that agriculture and allied sectors were “fields of promise as well as of responsibility” and acknowledged their growing complexity in the face of climate change, resource depletion, and emerging global standards.
The CM said that fragmented land holdings, depleting water resources, and the unchecked use of chemical-based fertilisers were issues that demand urgent course correction, calling for a decisive shift toward sustainable and organic practices.
He also emphasised the rising concerns around microplastics in the food chain and climate vulnerability, noting that environmental awareness was no longer optional, but an operational imperative.
Encouraging the graduating students, CM Omar urged them to imbibe the ideals of SKUAST and contribute to the broader mission of rural transformation.
“Let your innovation create employment, let your knowledge build enterprises and let your compassion redefine agriculture,” he said, calling on the new graduates to be job creators rather than seekers.
Commending the university’s efforts, the CM appreciated the launch of the Ex Situ Gene Bank, highlighting its role in conserving native seed varieties and crop diversity.
“Such infrastructure will only bear fruit when paired with the right talent,” he said, urging students and faculty to make full use of the facilities to address the evolving challenges of agricultural science.
CM Omar also lauded the students’ academic excellence and equal participation in developmental narratives, expressing confidence that SKUAST-J’s alumni will drive innovation and entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also attended the event as the chief guest, while prominent among others who were present on the occasion included Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Javid Ahmed Dar; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; and Principal Secretary Shailendra Kumar.
They congratulated the university on its silver jubilee and commended the Vice Chancellor and faculty for their visionary alignment with national frameworks like NEP-2020, Startup India, and Viksit Bharat@2047.
Presenting the SKUAST-J report, Vice Chancellor Prof B N Tripathi highlighted the varsity’s consistent achievements in education, research, innovation, and outreach.
“Our commitment to excellence is reflected in the patents we have secured, the start-ups we have incubated and the knowledge we have transferred to empower the farming community,” he said. The convocation saw the awarding of 446 degrees, including 157 Masters degrees, 46 Doctorates, and 243 Undergraduates, in addition to 8 Gold Medals for meritorious students. Several Professors of Practice, innovators, and entrepreneurs were also felicitated for their contributions to agricultural technology and rural entrepreneurship. The ceremony also marked the inauguration of a Farmers’ Hostel and a state-of-the-art Faculty Building funded under CAPEX-NABARD and the J&K government, bolstering SKUAST-J’s capacity for academic and research excellence.
