Guwahati, Dec 14: Delegates from 11 countries will be taking part in the 8th Assam International Agri-Horti Show-2023 being organised by the state department of agriculture and horticulture, at the College of Veterinary Sciences playground here from December16 to 18.
The theme of this edition, which will be inaugurated by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, will be “Marching towards self-sufficiency, maximising farmers’ income.”
Addressing mediapersons here on Thursday, Assam agriculture minister Atul Bora said the event, which started in 2013, has over the years, provided a platform to farmers and various farmer-producer companies of the state.
Technical sessions and plenary sessions covering various key topics, buyers-sellers meet, an exhibition and competitions will feature in the three-day event being organised at a cost of about Rs 7.5 crore.
As many as 10,000 farmers are expected to be present at the venue on the opening day.
“Representatives from Malaysia, Serbia, Thailand, Bhutan, New Zealand, South Korea, Mongolia, Iran, Indonesia, Seychelles and Bangladesh will be taking part in one of the plenary sessions on a key topic – “Strengthening market linkages from Assam with special focus on cross-border trade and investments,” Bora said.
Besides, the minister informed that there would be sessions on topics such as farm mechanisation, high value spices from Assam, post-harvest management and marketing opportunities of value-added agri-horti crops of Assam, safe use of pesticides and “nano-fertilisers-the alternative source of plant nutrients”.
The exhibition will feature as many as 393 stalls of which 233 will be put up by farmers and entrepreneurs, 50 nurseries, 80 stalls of government departments and corporations besides 30 indigenous food stalls.
“Over the past seven editions of the Assam International Agri-Horti Show, many farmers have been inspired to take up new and innovative methods of farming, which is a significant development. Buyer-seller meets and workshops have been a part of the event while farmers have had access to modern farm machinery, such as combined harvesters that have been procured by the government and provided to farmers at subsidised rates,” Bora said.
The minister further said that the agri-horti show has had a positive impact on the farm export prospects from the state to various countries.