ITANAGAR, AUG 18 (PTI): The Arunachal Pradesh government on Tuesday sought stronger support from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for preparing a time-bound agriculture roadmap for the state, setting up a Central Kiwi Research Institute and opening 10 more Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in uncovered districts.
Addressing the 97th annual general meeting of ICAR in New Delhi, Agriculture and Horticulture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu said Arunachal Pradesh needs mountain-specific scientific solutions to strengthen its agriculture and allied sectors, given its difficult terrain, vast geographical spread and dispersed farming communities.
He recalled the visit of Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to Arunachal Pradesh on June 30, during which the need for a comprehensive agriculture roadmap for the state was discussed, an official statement said here.
The responsibility for preparing the roadmap has since been entrusted to the Director of ICAR Research Complex for the North Eastern Hill Region.
Wangsu urged ICAR to expedite the exercise and ensure that the roadmap is practical, time-bound and focused on measurable outcomes for farmers.
The minister also renewed Arunachal Pradesh’s demand for setting up an ICAR Central Kiwi Research Institute in the state.
Reiterating the proposal raised at the 96th ICAR annual general meeting, Wangsu said Arunachal Pradesh contributes nearly 60 per cent of the country’s kiwi production.
He said kiwi has emerged as an important high-value horticultural crop, particularly in the temperate areas of the state, and a dedicated research institute would help improve production, technology, processing and market opportunities for growers.
The minister also sought sanction for 10 additional KVKs in districts that are currently not covered by the agricultural extension network.
Arunachal Pradesh presently has 17 KVKs, while proposals for 10 more centres have already been submitted to ICAR-ATARI, Guwahati.
He said expanding the KVK network was important to ensure that agricultural research, modern technologies and scientific practices reach farmers in remote areas.
Wangsu said Arunachal Pradesh considers ICAR a strategic knowledge partner in building a sustainable, climate-resilient, technology-driven and farmer-centric agricultural economy in the state.
