IFAD Partners’ Learning Forum 2026 Launches in Srinagar to Empower Women Farmers and Drive Agricultural Innovation
SRINAGAR, AUGUST 06, 2026 — The two-day International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Project Partners’ Learning Forum 2026 officially commenced at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. Organised by the Mission Directorate of the Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement Project (JKCIP) and the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) under the Agriculture Production Department, the event centers on the theme “Celebrating the International Year of Women Farmers: Empowering Women, Transforming Agriculture.” The forum brought together senior government leaders, IFAD representatives, project directors from across India, development professionals, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and agri-entrepreneurs to discuss inclusive and sustainable agricultural growth.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo formally inaugurated the event and delivered the keynote address. He highlighted the transformative role of technology, innovation, and institutional convergence in strengthening the agricultural landscape. Emphasizing the need for stronger collaboration among government bodies, development partners, and local farming communities, Dulloo urged stakeholders to build resilient, market-oriented agricultural systems. He also recognized women farmers as crucial catalysts for rural economic transformation, reiterating the administration’s commitment to empowering them through hands-on technical training, capacity building, and targeted entrepreneurship support.
Academic and project leaders also addressed the gathering on critical avenues for rural advancement. SKUAST-Kashmir Vice Chancellor Nazir Ahmad Ganie stressed the role of scientific research, innovation, and modern interventions in raising farm productivity. He called for tighter linkages between research institutions, extension agencies, and local farmers to speed up technology adoption. HADP and JKCIP Mission Director Sagar D. Dattatray outlined the key progress under JKCIP, pointing to stronger institutional systems, digital expansion, startup incubation, and expanded livelihood opportunities across Jammu & Kashmir. IFAD India Country Director James Marc de Sousa-Shields reaffirmed IFAD’s commitment to rural transformation through partnerships, commending JKCIP’s robust digital infrastructure and community-driven execution.
A major highlight of the inaugural session was the rollout of three key knowledge and digital initiatives under JKCIP. Dignitaries released the fourth edition of JKCIP Pulse, a quarterly newsletter documenting field experiences and institutional insights, along with the JKCIP Annual Report 2025–26, detailing milestones from the project’s first full year of implementation. Most notably, the forum marked the launch of Krishi Mitra AI, an in-house developed, AI-powered crop advisory and leaf diagnosis platform designed to provide personalized, data-driven real-time guidance to farmers through the broader JKCIP Digital Ecosystem.
Alongside the speeches, the forum featured an interactive exhibition highlighting local innovation and collective farming enterprise. Ten JKCIP-supported startups displayed advancements across precision agriculture, food processing, digital tools, and value addition. Five Farmer Producer Organisations showcased a range of high-value agricultural and horticultural products from the region. Thematic exhibition stalls set up by the Department of Agriculture Kashmir, Department of Horticulture Kashmir, and the Horticulture Planning & Marketing Department detailed ongoing flagship programs and market-chain interventions across the Union Territory.
The opening day wrapped up with technical interactions, networking, and knowledge-sharing sessions among project delegates from across the country. Day two of the Learning Forum will feature thematic panels, state-level project experience sharing, and field visits to successful FPOs, agri-startups, and JKCIP-backed Centres of Excellence.