Shillong June 25th: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr. Mukul Sangma today inaugurated the Integrated Agriculture Training Centre, (IATC) building at Upper Shillong in the presence of the Chairman of the MGCC, Mr. R V Lyngdoh who is also the local MLA, Meghalaya Chief Secretary, Mr. WMS Pariat, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Department, Mr. p Kharkongor, headman of the area, Mr. Oris Syiem Myriaw and senior government officials of the State Department.
Dr. Sangma in speech said that the new initiative of the Government is in sync with various developmental programme of the Government which has been embarked upon including the developmental programme of the Agriculture Department and allied sectors, adding that the optimal utilization of all the resources will help in generating avenues in employment.
He further added that with the inauguration of the new building of the IATC, the farmers of the State will be immensely benefitted through various trainings and programme being implemented by the institute.
He also added that the main catalyst for ensuring socio-economic transformation change is the creation of institutions to act as a catalyst to make every citizens of the State capable of ensuring productivity.
He also added that almost 80% of the people of the State live in rural areas with their main stay in agriculture and hope that this population will be productively lift the economy of the State. He also lamented over the fact that many farmers have shifted their occupation which is a concerning trend in the socio-economy situation of the state and hope that the institute will inculcate upon the farmers about the various aspects and latest technology of farming.
Dr. Sangma added that the IATC will cater to different training needs of the department, different training activities basic agriculture training through various schemes.
It may be mentioned that Department of Agriculture a part from input delivery administration of new agriculture technologies, its main function is convincing the farmers to adopt, adapt and accept the technologies. Thus the new training institute mil help in creating awareness and capacity building at the utmost important where by knowledge and skills of farmers and departmental functionaries can be upgraded periodically with ever evolving technologies in the field of agriculture.(SP News)
