ITANAGAR, May 21: Spurred to push agri & allied sectors in Arunachal Pradesh to a ‘new height’, Agriculture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu, who led a GoAP delegation to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Complex for NEH Region in Umiam (Meghalaya), had extensive deliberations with scientists and officials there, focusing on technological interventions and future institutional collaboration.
The Minister, while describing the interaction as “highly meaningful”, stated that discussions centered on addressing pressing challenges in agriculture through scientific innovation, research-based solutions and collaborative initiatives between the Govt of Arunachal Pradesh and ICAR institutions.
During the discussion with the scientists, the Wangsu-led delegation sought technological and scientific solutions to various site specific issues, including small machinery for land terracing and jhum land reclamation, citrus decline, pollination issues in kiwi fruits. Training and capacity building collaborations under ‘Catch Them Young’ programme of Agriculture & allied departments were also explored for promoting agri-business and entrepreneurship.
The meeting was attended by the Director ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Director ICAR-ATARI Zone VII, senior scientists, researchers and officials of the institute.
The Minister was accompanied by GoAP officials - Samuel Changkija, Secretary Agriculture, and Koj Rinya, Secretary Horticulture.
On the second day of the visit, Wangsu undertook an extensive tour of various research and demonstration facilities within the institute campus. He visited the All India Coordinated Research Project on Pig (AICRP on Pig), the Division of Animal and Fisheries Science, Agro-processing Centre, Engineering Section, Farming System Research Project (FSRP), Technology Demonstration under Integrated Farming System (IFS) model, and the National Innovation in Climate Resilient Agriculture programme.
The Minister interacted closely with scientists and technical experts during the tour, observing scientific innovations and modern farming technologies being developed for the Northeastern region.