HT Correspondent
GEKU, Aug 13: Dr Rajesh Kumar, Principal Scientist, ICAR–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Zone-VI, Guwahati, made his maiden two-day visit to Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Upper Siang, from August 12–13, marking a significant step in strengthening outreach and extension services in the remote tribal district of Arunachal Pradesh.
As part of the visit, Dr Kumar inaugurated a newly established Poultry Demonstration Unit at the KVK campus to promote backyard poultry as a sustainable livelihood option for rural and tribal households.
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According to an official statement, the unit will serve as a hands-on learning platform for farmers, self-help groups (SHGs) and rural youth, focusing on dual-purpose improved poultry breeds suited to local agro-climatic conditions.
Another highlight was the distribution of high-quality vegetable seed kits (PUSA BEEJ) under the KVK Upper Siang’s ICAR–IARI NEH component, aimed at enhancing nutritional security and income generation through improved vegetable cultivation.
During the visit, Dr Kumar interacted with farmers, women SHG members and frontline extension workers, noting their challenges, suggestions and achievements.
He emphasised the adoption of a model village with an integrated farming approach and active community participation, and suggested utilising the Swachhta fund for permanent infrastructure to support cleanliness, hygiene and resource efficiency.
He also encouraged the formation of a farmers’ cooperative society to strengthen collective bargaining power, improve access to inputs and markets, and enable resource sharing.
Dr Kumar lauded the KVK Upper Siang team for their efforts in empowering farmers through innovative practices, delivering location-specific technologies, conducting training and skill development programmes, and promoting climate-resilient agriculture despite geographical constraints.
Dr Oyinti Megu, Senior Scientist and Head of KVK Upper Siang, expressed gratitude for the visit, noting it was the first by an ATARI representative to the centre.
She sought support in continuing the KVK’s work and in communicating the challenges faced in the difficult terrain to ICAR–ATARI and higher authorities.
The visit concluded with a field tour of on-farm trial sites, demonstration plots and farmers’ fields at Jommoh and Geku, as well as an integrated paddy-cum-fish farming system run by State gold medallist farmer Totok Libang at Simong village.
