By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 20: Farmers of Jaintia Hills received a decisive push toward sustainable agriculture on Saturday as the Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Community and Skill Development Centre (DDUCC), Wahiajer, a constituent college of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, conducted a capacity-building programme under the theme ‘Skill Enhancement for Horticultural Development’.
The day-long programme, organised in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture, NEHU Tura Campus, and supported by ICAR–IIHR Bengaluru, drew nearly 250 participants, including farmers, students, faculty, community leaders and dignitaries from across the region.
Technical sessions were led by Prof. CP Suresh of Department of Horticulture, NEHU Tura Campus and Nodal Officer, along with Risakaru Lyngdoh, Subject Matter Specialist in Agronomy, KVK Wahiajer.
During the programme, farmers were trained in modern cultivation practices with a special focus on nutrient-rich crops, in line with the National Nutrition Week 2025 theme ‘Eat Right for a Better Life’.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who attended the event as the chief guest, commended NEHU-DDUCC for consistently creating avenues of empowerment for youth and women.
He urged farmers to seize such opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills for sustainable livelihoods while assuring government support for infrastructure development to strengthen the institution.
Meanwhile, NEHU Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. S. Umdor described horticulture as vital for food security, employment and rural growth, while urging farmers to apply the lessons learnt and utilise government schemes and subsidies.
Similarly, Dr. FR Sumer, Principal in-charge of DDUCC, and Wahiajer headman Sanwotki Laloo stressed the importance of adopting IIHR technologies to boost horticultural output in Jaintia Hills.
The programme concluded with the symbolic distribution of horticultural inputs and seedlings sponsored by ICAR-IIHR Bengaluru, with women farmers forming the majority of beneficiaries.
