ICAR Meeting: Stress Laid On Doubling Farmers’ Income In Meghalaya

Staff Correspondent

SHILLONG: With the aim to double farmers’ income, the ICAR Complex for NEH Region, organized a day-long interface meeting with State Government officials. The main objective of the interface meeting was to strengthen the linkages between ICAR and the various State Government departments of Meghalaya. The meeting mainly focused on the technological back-stopping and capacity-building of stake holders.

In the inaugural session, Dr N Prakash, Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, welcomed the dignitaries. He said that the interface meet is a step towards the aim of doubling farmers’ income of the region. Addressing the gathering, P Sampath Kumar, Commissioner & Secretary, Agriculture Department highlighted the various missions of the department and emphasised on the fact that initiatives should be taken at the district level.

The state is 65 per cent deficit in pork production and hence farming can be encouraged for the youth in the region to generate employment, he said. C Manjunatha, Secretary, Animal Health & Veterinary Department said that apart from organic farming, organic milk production can increase the income of farmers. He further discussed a success story of Mawmarang village in South West Khasi Hills, which produces “organic milk” with the use of cattle ranch technique.

The brainstorming and technical sessions were an integral part of the day-long programme. Discussions were held on how to facilitate and support the infrastructure of the State. The programme was attended by Dr BC Deka, Director, ATAR Zone-III, Dr NB Singh, Dean, CPGS, Dr UK Behera, Dean of College of Agriculture along with scientists, professors, researchers and academicians from the respective institutes.

Also Read: MEGHALAYA NEWS