Srinagar, Mar 6: High-speed internet and prepaid mobile calling services have been restored across the Kashmir Valley, bringing relief to residents after temporary restrictions on communication services.

Officials said that the restoration of services will help ease communication difficulties faced by the public, particularly students and business communities who rely heavily on internet connectivity for daily activities.

With the resumption of high-speed internet and prepaid calling services, normal digital and communication activities are expected to gradually return to routine across the Valley. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure smooth functioning of services.(KNC)

Not everyone can secure a govt job; explore innovation, become entrepreneurs: CM Omar to youth

Says agriculture, horticulture contribute significantly to J&K’s GDP

Jammu: Calling upon youth to become job creators instead of job seekers, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said agriculture and allied sectors hold immense potential for startups, value addition and entrepreneurship programmes in the region.

Addressing a Startup Outreach Programme organised under the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu, the Chief Minister, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “Agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and apiculture together form a strong economic base of the region.”

He said, “There is a misconception that Jammu and Kashmir’s economy is driven only by tourism. The fact is that agriculture and horticulture contribute significantly to J&K’s Gross Domestic Product.”

CM Omar told students that government employment opportunities are limited and not everyone can secure a government job.

He said the youth must explore innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly in sectors where the region already has natural strengths. “We do not have resources like coal, iron ore or oil to set up large-scale industries. We have to build industries around what we already possess, and agriculture offers that opportunity,” he said.

The Chief Minister stressed the need for value addition to make agriculture viable, noting that shrinking land holdings and market uncertainties have made traditional farming less sustainable.

Citing dairy as an example, he said only a small percentage of milk produced in Jammu and Kashmir undergoes processing, unlike states such as Gujarat where value addition is significantly higher. Processing milk into products such as paneer and other dairy items increases income and creates employment, he added.

He also highlighted opportunities in meat processing, fisheries, honey production, floriculture and horticulture, saying small innovations can open new markets. Referring to a young innovator who improved flower packaging to enhance shelf life, he said such ideas can generate viable enterprises.

Encouraging students to take risks, Abdullah said failure should not deter aspiring entrepreneurs. Drawing a parallel with global entrepreneur Elon Musk, he said setbacks are part of innovation and learning.

The chief minister assured institutional and government support for young entrepreneurs and called upon them to harness schemes such as JKCIP and the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme to modernise the sector.

On the occasion, he launched 808 Kisan Khidmat Ghars aimed at strengthening grassroots agricultural services and felicitated startups and farmers’ producer organisations for their achievements—(KNO)

MeT predicts cloudy weather, light rain from March 7 to 9

Kashmir continues to record above normal day temperatures

Srinagar: Day temperatures remained 7-9 degrees Celsius above normal in many parts of Kashmir and 6-11 degrees above normal in several areas of Jammu division, the Meteorological Department said on Thursday.

According to the IMD data accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the highest maximum temperature in Kashmir division was recorded at Muzaffarabad at 27.0 degrees Celsius, while in Jammu division, Mirpur registered 35.5 degrees Celsius.

In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the maximum temperature settled at 24.7 degrees Celsius, which is 11.7 degrees above normal. Jammu recorded a high of 32.4 degrees Celsius, 8.1 degrees above normal.

The MeT office said minimum temperatures also stayed above normal by 2-7 degrees Celsius in many places across the Union Territory. Pahalgam in Kashmir division recorded a low of 2.2 degrees Celsius, while Banihal registered 10.6 degrees Celsius. Jammu recorded a minimum of 15.5 degrees Celsius.

No precipitation was recorded in the past 24 hours across Jammu and Kashmir, and the weather remained dry, the MeT said.

The IMD has forecast generally dry weather across Jammu and Kashmir on March 6. “From March 7 to 9, the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy with light rain or snow over higher reaches at isolated to scattered places. Between March 10 and 11, the weather is likely to be partly to generally cloudy with light rain or snow at scattered places in higher reaches,” the weatherman said.

The MeT office said the weather is expected to remain generally dry from March 12 to 15. On March 16 and 17, generally cloudy conditions with light rain or snow at isolated places over higher reaches are likely.

An advisory issued by the department said farmers can continue farm operations. It also said that a further rise in day temperature by 2-3 degrees Celsius at most places is likely over the next three days, followed by a fall of 3-5 degrees Celsius at many places thereafter—(KNO)