Shillong, Dec 16: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Dr Charan Das Mahant inaugurated the Phenomics facility – an area of biology used for measuring phenomes (the physical and biochemical traits of agricultural crops)-at Plant Breeding division of ICAR-RC-NEH Bara
pani during his visit at the complex today.
Addressing the gathering Dr. Charan Das Mahant highlighted on the organic strength of the region, “The north eastern region has true might and capacity to be the next organic producer in the country, if agricultural development spread through adoption of innovative research being done at ICAR and other State Agricultural Universities in the region”, he said.
Highlighting further on the technologies available to help and improving agricultural sector Dr B. Kumar Director General of Natural Resource Management division at ICAR-Pusa, New Delhi informed that sustainable land use planning, crop improvement technologies, and being large population non vegetarian in the region, multiple scope in the field of livestock development have been made available to regional farmers by ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Umaim, Meghalaya.
“We are continuously working hard to mitigate food deficiency. Though under climate change regime, keeping pace with food security will be a difficult task to undertake, but not impossible”, informed Dr. S.V. Ngachan, Director ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Barapani.
Informing on research and extension that have been undertaken by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) of after they assessed farmers’ need research, Zonal Project Director (ZPD-III) Dr. A.K. Gogoi told that they are successful in framing some of the success stories from the remote villages across various districts of the NEH region.
On the occasion a book entitled “Farmers Success Through KVKs Intervention: a Documentation on success stories in north eastern region was also released by the chief guest Dr. Mahant
Meanwhile, Dr. T. Bag, Head CPRS at Upper Shillong informed that the Central Potato Research Station (CPRS) at Upper Shillong has developed package of practices for potato tuber moth (PTM) – a small grey brown moth that rests during day and active in night.
Power presentations delivered by respective scientists of ICAR- Barapani, and CPRS, Upper Shillong, and Collage of Post Graduate Studies (CPGS-Barapani) in which constraints ranging from land accusations for crops, State level planning for agricultural development and others were raised, which the Union State Agriculture Minister promised to solve after discussing it with Meghalaya government.(SP News)
