Itanagar, May 30 (PTI): Arunachal Pradesh has urged the Centre to strengthen support for the agriculture and horticulture sector in the northeast, with special focus on timely seed funding and expansion of organic farming initiatives, officials said.
Participating at the two-day national conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign 2026 in New Delhi on Friday, state minister Gabriel D Wangsu said quality seeds remain the most critical input for improving farm productivity and ensuring food security. He called for timely allocation and release of funds under seed-related programmes, and sought the development of more certified seed varieties suited to the agro-climatic conditions of the northeast, an official statement said on Saturday.
Wangsu, the state’s Agriculture and Horticulture Minister, also stressed the need to recognise and promote locally adapted indigenous germplasm, saying such varieties often perform better under local conditions than externally introduced seeds.
He suggested encouraging and empanelling local and regional companies to produce seeds tailored to the region’s unique agro-climatic conditions.
Highlighting the challenges faced by farmers in remote areas, Wangsu sought enhanced support under the Seed Village Programme and the Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP) for infrastructure, farmer training and distribution.
The minister also sought higher financial assistance, citing the high cost of certified seeds and the limited purchasing capacity of farmers in the northeastern states.
On sustainable agriculture, Wangsu said Arunachal Pradesh is “largely organic by default”, and intends to further promote bio-based crop protection practices in line with the Centre’s Mission Organic vision.
Wangsu also proposed the introduction of a dedicated Organic Bio-based Crop Protection Scheme under central programmes.
Sunday, May 31, 2026