In a significant boost to Jammu & Kashmir’s agricultural innovation ecosystem, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J) organised an Industry–Startup Outreach Programme under the Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP). The programme was formally inaugurated by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo in the presence of senior officials, industry leaders, startups, researchers, academicians and farmer representatives.
The initiative aims to create stronger collaboration between academia, government institutions, financial bodies and private industry to accelerate agri-startups and enterprise development in the Union Territory.
Strengthening Industry–Academia–Startup Linkages
The outreach programme brought together key stakeholders including Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST-Jammu Professor B.N. Tripathi, Mission Director of JKCIP and HADP Sandeep Kumar (IFS), statutory university officers, representatives from IIIM Jammu, IIT Jammu, IIM Jammu, UTLBC, J&K Bank, District Industries Centre (DIC) Jammu, along with Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), entrepreneurs and students.
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Addressing the gathering, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo emphasised the need for strong institutional partnerships to transform agriculture into a high-growth, innovation-driven sector. He highlighted that collaboration between research institutions and private industry is crucial for converting ideas into commercially viable products and scalable businesses.
From Aggregation to Enterprise-Led Growth
In his address, Dulloo stressed that Farmer Producer Organizations must evolve from simple aggregation units into enterprise-driven models. According to him, the real potential lies in value addition through processing, packaging, branding and improved market access. By moving up the value chain, farmers can significantly improve their incomes and reduce dependency on raw produce sales.
He also outlined the “4 Cs” essential for startup success — Culture, Capacity Building, Commercialisation and Connectivity. These pillars, he said, will help in building a resilient agricultural startup ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir.
The Chief Secretary reiterated the government’s commitment to improving ease of doing business in the agriculture sector, strengthening credit linkages with banks and financial institutions, and ensuring a supportive regulatory environment for emerging entrepreneurs.
Tapping the Untapped Agricultural Potential
Jammu & Kashmir is known for its wool production, trout fisheries, floriculture, and medicinal and aromatic plants. However, lack of adequate processing infrastructure has historically limited large-scale value addition. Dulloo expressed confidence that initiatives like the Industry–Startup Outreach Programme would bridge these gaps and unlock new economic opportunities for the region.
He also stated that such collaborative efforts align with broader national goals of economic transformation and rural empowerment.
Universities as Catalysts of Innovation
Vice-Chancellor Professor B.N. Tripathi highlighted that universities today must go beyond teaching and research and actively foster innovation and entrepreneurship. He noted that organising such outreach events reflects SKUAST-J’s commitment to regional economic development.
Tripathi shared that the university has incubated over 120 startup ideas in agriculture and allied sectors, with more than 32 startups already receiving funding support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. However, he underscored that financial support must be complemented by mentorship, compliance assistance and structured commercialisation pathways.
He also mentioned strategic steps such as introducing industry-linked learning initiatives and engaging professionals as Professors of Practice to bridge the academia-industry gap.
Panel Discussions on Collaboration and Financing
The programme featured engaging panel discussions involving representatives from industry, academia, financial institutions and startups. The discussions revolved around improving access to finance, product validation, market integration and strengthening value chains.
Speakers highlighted the importance of mentorship, joint research projects and better networking platforms to ensure sustainable startup growth in the agricultural sector.
In the concluding remarks, senior university officials reiterated that such outreach programmes help build long-term partnerships that can transform Jammu & Kashmir’s agri-entrepreneurship landscape.
The Industry–Startup Outreach Programme under JKCIP is being seen as a significant step towards building a structured, innovation-friendly ecosystem that empowers farmers, researchers and entrepreneurs alike, ultimately contributing to the economic development of the Union Territory.