Shillong, Jan 30: Shri Kailash Choudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Government of India, visited the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam today. The purpose of his visit was to engage in an interactive session with the scientists, farmers, and staff of the institute. Commencing the day, the honorable Minister toured the various experimental fields and farms of the institute, engaging in on-field interactions with the scientist.
In his welcome address, Dr. V K Mishra, Director ICAR RC NEH expressed his gratitude to the Minister under whose guidance this institute is prospering and is being able to develop this region in terms of agriculture and allied sectors. He also gave a brief presentation about the achievements of the Institute. In his address, Dr. A K Mohanty, Director, ICAR-ATARI Zone VII, Umiam explained the working system of the various KrishiVigyan Kendras (KVKs) and he also mentioned that their primary mandate is the transportation and demonstration of technologies to farmers’ fields.
The Chief Guest, Shri Kailash Choudhary, expressed his pleasure at seeing scientists and farmers come together. He believed that this collaboration would bridge the gap and pave the way for the development of farmers and the agricultural sector. The minister emphasised that the happiest moment for a scientist is when their varieties or technologies reach the farmers’ fields. He also stressed the potential of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in solving many marketing problems faced by farmers if operated effectively. He also raised awareness about the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, highlighting its benefits for the needy farmers. He further iterated that the introduction of drone technology for fertilisation, sensor-based agriculture, drip irrigation, etc., signals a time for change, requiring collaboration between scientists and farmers for a developed India..
During the interactive session, farmers raised concerns about seed storage and the availability of quality seeds. Problems related to the marketing of various agricultural products were also discussed. Shri Kailash Choudhary distributed agricultural equipment and seeds to the farmers. Before his departure, the honorable Minister personally demonstrated drone technology to the farmers. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. V K Verma, Senior Scientist, DSRE, ICAR, Umiam.
