By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Dr. Charan Das Mahant, visited ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Umiam for a two day visit here on Saturday.
During the visit, the MoS inaugurated the Phenomics facility at Plant Breeding division of ICAR-RC-NEH at Umiam.
While highlighting the organic strength of the region, he said, “The north eastern region has the capacity to be the next organic producer in the country, if agricultural development is spread through adoption of innovative research being done at ICAR and other State Agricultural Universities in the region”.
It may be mentioned that the sustainable land use planning, crop improvement technologies, and multiple scope in the field of livestock development have been made available to regional farmers by ICAR Research Complex.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. S.V. Ngachan, Director ICAR Research Complex informed that the ICAR is continuously working hard to mitigate food deficiency while adding that under climate change regime, keeping pace with food security etc will be a difficult task to undertake, but not impossible.
While informing the Union Minister about research and extension that have been undertaken by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) of ICAR after they assessed farmers’ need research, Zonal Project Director (ZPD-III) Dr. A.K. Gogoi told that they have been successful in framing some of the success stories from the remote villages across various districts of the NEH region.
A book entitled “Farmers Success Through KVKs Intervention: a Documentation on success stories in north eastern region” (edited by Gogoi et al 😉 was also released by Dr Mahant.
The Central Potato Research Station (CPRS) at Upper Shillong has developed package of practices for potato tuber moth (PTM).
“After controlling it, there are bumper crops this year in the State, informed Dr. T. Bag, Head CPRS at Upper Shillong, Shillong,” Dean Dr. Ravindran of CPGS- Barapani who was also present on the occasion said.
Power presentations delivered by respective scientists of ICAR- Barapani, and CPRS, Upper Shillong ,and Collage of Post Graduate Studies (CPGS-Barapani) in which constraints ranging from land accusations for crops, State level planning for agricultural development and others were raised, which the Union State Agriculture Minister promised to solve after discussing it with State government.