Srinagar, Feb 15: On the second day of GON’GUL 2026 — the 11th AgriTech Mela of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir — an FPO (Farmer Producer Organisation) Conclave was held at the main campus in Shalimar. The event aimed to strengthen farmer collectives as engines of rural growth in Jammu and Kashmir.

The conclave featured a panel discussion with senior officials and experts from NABARD, SKUAST-K, the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM), the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and the Directorate of Horticulture, Kashmir. Discussions focused on financial convergence, institutional capacity building, market access, policy support, and strategies for scaling up FPO activities.
An interactive session with Chairpersons and CEOs of FPOs allowed grassroots-level feedback, highlighting challenges such as credit accessibility, infrastructure gaps, branding, and value addition.
Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST-K, stressed the need for institutional handholding, technology integration, and robust marketing frameworks to ensure sustainable growth of FPOs. The programme also included felicitation of newly formed FPOs and drew heavy participation at technology stalls, live demonstrations, agri-startup exhibits, and farmer advisory desks.