Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Inaugurates SKUAST-Jammu Industry-Startup Outreach Programme to Boost JKCIP Initiatives

JAMMU, March 02, 2026 — Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo officially inaugurated a landmark Industry–Startup Outreach Programme organized by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Jammu. Held under the Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP), the event aimed to bridge the gap between academia, industry, and the startup ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.

During his address, the Chief Secretary introduced the “4 Cs” framework—comprising culture, capacity building, commercialization, and connectivity—as the essential pillars for startup success. He further urged Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to evolve into enterprise-oriented models by focusing on processing, branding, and value addition to significantly increase farmers’ incomes.

The high-profile event saw participation from Vice Chancellor Professor B.N. Tripathi, Mission Director JKCIP/HADP Sandeep Kumar, and representatives from premier institutions like IIT, IIM, and IIIM Jammu.

Vice Chancellor Tripathi highlighted that SKUAST-Jammu has already incubated over 120 startup ideas, with more than 32 receiving federal funding. However, he emphasized that startups require more than just capital; they need structured mentorship and integration into established supply chains to scale effectively.

The Chief Secretary concluded by noting that while the region is a leader in wool, trout, and floriculture, a focused effort on local processing is required to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a vibrant agri-entrepreneurship hub in line with the “Viksit Bharat” vision.