HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, Nov 4: Margherita College launched a comprehensive three-day workshop on Monday, which will continue until November 6. The workshop was about sustainable citrus and plantation crop farming, organised by the National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, in collaboration with the Tea and Ex-Tea Garden Labourers Development Association.
This initiative aims to explore marketing opportunities and challenges faced by small-scale cultivators, facilitated by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell at Margherita College.
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The workshop commenced on Monday with a formal inauguration led by Dr Atonu Kakoty, principal of Margherita College, and was joined by notable figures including Dr Gautam Purkayastha, vice principal of Margherita College; Dr Ranjit Pandit, academic coordinator of Margherita College; resource person Dr Bijit Kumar Saud, principal scientist at the Assam Agriculture University’s Citrus and Plantation Crops Research Station in Tinsukia. Also in attendance were Ashwini Kumar Tasa, general secretary of the Tea and Ex-Tea Garden Labourers Development Association; Pranjal Baraik, convener; Ankur Gogoi, advisor of the Tea and Ex-Tea Garden Labourers Development Association; and joint coordinators of the workshop, commerce department teachers Anjan Kumar Bordoloi and Yemokhya Fakay. Over 50 participants, including students, alumni, farmers, and local cultivators, engaged in the workshop.
The ceremonial lighting of the lamp marked the official start of the event. Dr Atonu Kakoty expressed his enthusiasm for the workshop’s goals, stating, “Margherita College is proud to host such a significant workshop on sustainable citrus and plantation crop farming, providing knowledge that will benefit farmers, cultivators, and interested youth in the greater Margherita region.”
Each of the distinguished guests was honoured with a traditional Assamese phulam gamosa and a commemorative memento.
During his address, Dr Bijit Kumar Saud highlighted the unique biodiversity of Assam and the Northeastern states, emphasising the region’s wealth of flora and fauna, particularly in citrus plantations. He noted, “Assam is home to 23 of the 27 citrus species found worldwide, providing an opportunity for self-reliance in agriculture without the constant need for employment elsewhere.” Dr Saud encouraged participants to engage fully in the workshop, assuring them that they would gain valuable insights into cultivating citrus and plantation crops.
At the conclusion of the workshop, all participants will receive a certificate of participation from the organising committee, as confirmed by Ankur Gogoi, further incentivising their engagement and learning.
This initiative not only aims to empower local cultivators but also seeks to enhance the overall agricultural landscape of the region.
