Srinagar, Oct 10: The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) and the Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) will jointly host the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS) alongside the Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Science Congress-2026 at the university’s Shalimar campus from October 12 to 14.
The three-day national-level event, themed “Contouring Sustainable Himalayan Landscapes for Inclusive Viksit Bharat”, will bring together policymakers, scientists, administrators, farmers and development professionals to deliberate on climate-resilient agriculture, mountain ecosystem conservation and inclusive development pathways for the Himalayan region.
A key highlight of the summit will be discussions on the proposed Sustainable Mountain Development Policy for Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at strengthening the policy framework for sustainable development in the region’s fragile mountain ecosystems.
Three publications focusing on climate resilience in the Himalayas and the development of high-integrity agricultural carbon markets in India will also be launched. These include a Farmer’s Guidebook, an Article 6.2 Toolkit and an Environmental and Social Management Framework.
Developed by SKUAST-Kashmir, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI), the publications are intended to support informed and equitable participation by farmers in carbon markets, facilitate credible international carbon-market cooperation and strengthen environmental and social safeguards for agricultural carbon projects.
The summit will feature three major events attended by prominent political and administrative figures. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of SKUAST-K, will be the chief guest at the inaugural function scheduled for October 12 at 10 am.
Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh will attend a special session on October 13 at 2 pm.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chancellor of SKUAST-Kashmir, will be the chief guest at the valedictory function on October 14 at 3 pm.
The summit and the accompanying Agriculture Science Congress are expected to provide a platform for discussions on sustainable mountain development, agricultural innovation and policy interventions to address the environmental and economic challenges facing the Himalayan region.
