PASIGHAT, Jun 10: Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal, Manipur under the theme of Agriculturally Vibrant and Self Reliant (AVSR) NEH Region initiated a “Community Empowerment Programme” through distribution of technology products through all of its 13 constituent colleges and six Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) across NER with the objective to support the farmers in NER amid COVID-19 distress. As a part of this programme, a voluntary contribution of one-day salary of staff members of college (CHF, CoA, KVK, MTT C & VTC) were taken to serve the purpose.
The programme, conducted in both offline and online modes on Wednesday, was graced by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. In his speech, Khandu expressed his view on COVID-19 situation and praised the importance of such initiatives and programme in support of empowering the farmers’ community. He also mentioned the need for technology driven agriculture in the State as well as in NE.
The programme, centrally coordinated from CAU, Imphal, was joined by more than 100 farmers through online and 11 representative farmers from six adopted villages of East Siang district through offline mode, under the tutelage of College of Horticulture and Forestry (CHF), Pasighat.
Prof BN Hazarika, Dean, CHF distributed the planting materials (fruits saplings, vegetable seeds, medicinal plants, etc), vermicompost, biocontrol agents, mushroom spawn and tools like ridger, sanitizer, masks and gloves in presence of local MLA Kaling Moyong (online).
The whole programme was centrally conducted under the leadership of CAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Anupam Mishra. It was his initiative to support the farming community during such unprecedented period.