By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 16: Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Saturday inaugurated the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Jaintia Hills at Wahiajer, calling for a shift toward scientific, climate-resilient and organic farming to secure sustainable agricultural growth in Meghalaya.
Addressing the gathering, Dhar stated that the new KVK will serve as a technical hub to empower farmers through training and the introduction of innovative technologies tailored to the region.
He highlighted various government initiatives, including the CM Elevate programme and farm mechanisation subsidies, intended to provide financial support and modern equipment to the farming community.
During the programme, the deputy chief minister also urged farmers to view agriculture as a formal profession and work closely with KVK experts to improve their livelihoods.
He then advocated for the widespread adoption of organic practices to maintain soil health and long-term productivity.
The inauguration, held alongside a stakeholder workshop for TDC NICRA, was attended by officials from the Agriculture department, agricultural scientists and local farmers.
Director of ATARI (Zone VII) Dr. AK Mohanty noted the role of KVKs in bridging the gap between research and field application.
He informed that a Rural Agri-Business Incubation Centre has been established at the Jaintia Hills KVK to assist farmers with entrepreneurship and value addition.
During the event, Blossom Nongrum was felicitated as the ‘Best NICRA Farmer’ for her contributions to climate-resilient agriculture.
The programme also featured the distribution of agricultural inputs, the opening of a Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) and a technical session on climate-smart practices led by horticulture specialist B. Kharbamon.
The session concluded with a farmer-scientist interaction aimed at addressing local cultivation challenges.
