Srinagar, Feb. 16 -- The annual agricultural festival in Srinagar has once again spotlighted the urgent need to rethink how rural economies are nurtured. At its heart lies a simple truth: the prosperity of villages is inseparable from the health of the wider economy. When farmers thrive, markets stabilize, communities flourish, and the promise of sustainable growth becomes tangible. Yet, this requires more than rhetoric; it demands a deliberate blend of traditional wisdom and modern innovation.

Agriculture, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, floriculture, and dairy remain the backbone of rural livelihoods. These sectors are not just sources of income; they are cultural anchors and custodians of health and food security. The government's...