Zonal farmers' meet held, stress laid on transforming agriculture to agro-business

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Assam Agriculture University, North Lakhimpur, organized the Zonal Farmers' Meet of the year on Saturday in a befitting manner.

The event was held at the RARS premises in association with Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science (LCVS), Lakhimpur District Agriculture Office, Viswanath Agriculture College and the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Udalguri and Darrang districts, with the presence of around 500 farmers of North Plain Zone under RARS, which covers the six districts.

The event began with the unfurling of the flag by RARS chief scientist Dr. Prabal Kumar Saikia and lighting of the ceremonial lamp by progressive woman farmer Kamini Mili. Dr. Prabal Kumar Das delivered the welcome address of the event. The Vice-Chancellor of Assam Agriculture University participated in the programme as the chief guest. In his lecture, the Vice-Chancellor laid stress on transforming the traditional Assamese community farming to agro-industry by using the latest agro-machineries. "Our farmers must pay attention to earning commercial profits with their agro-products. Otherwise, we must depend on farmers of outer States for our essential commodities," he said. Further, he expressed concern over youths of the State going outside in search of jobs while ignoring the agriculture sector which had a lot of potentials. "Bright future cannot be ensured without hard labour. Our active youths must come forward to bring a revolutionary change in our agriculture field," he added.

Dhemaji MLA Dr. Ranoj Kumar Pegu and LCVS Associate Dean Dr. Uma Ram Tamuli, Viswanath Agriculture College Associate Dean Dr. Ranen Barman attended the programme as guests of honour and addressed the farmers. Six progressive farmers from Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Udalguri, Darrang, Sonitpur districts were given warm felicitation in the same programme where series of bulletins and brochures written by the scientists of RARS and Lakhimpur KVK were released by Ashok Bhattacharya and Dr. Ranoj Kumar Pegu.

In connection with the programme, three exhibitions on agro-based items, sericulture items, and veterinary science were also organized where agricultural institutions, including Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science, and agro-companies took part. A special interaction programme among the assembled farmers and the scientists of the RARS, KVKs and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science was also organized in the event.

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