HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, Oct 15: The Annual General Body meeting of the Assam-NE Chapter of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE) took place at the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) campus, with attendance from Agricultural Engineers working in various organisations in the NE Region of India.
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Dr Pankaj Barua, head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering at Assam Agricultural University, welcomed the members and emphasised the need for proactive actions by the professional body to bring agricultural engineering to the forefront in the development of agriculture in the NE Region. The meeting included in-depth discussions on contemporary issues, prospects, and challenges related to the role of agricultural engineers in the region, as well as the status of academic programs in agricultural engineering.
Dr Pradip Kumar Bora, chairman of the ISAE NE Chapter and director of NERIWALM, commended the decision of the Union minister of agriculture and farmers’ welfare to establish a separate directorate of Agricultural Engineering in all states of the country. The agricultural engineers at the meeting were pleased that this long-standing aspiration for an independent directorate to address technological challenges in agriculture in the region would be realised. The meeting urged the state governments of the region, including the government of Assam, to take the necessary steps for the early establishment of a directorate of Agricultural Engineering.
Agricultural Engineering, as a multidisciplinary academic program, can take advantage of emerging tools and technologies (such as sensor-based technologies, drones, automated machines, big data, renewable energy technologies, and technologies for value addition of farm produce) to address issues related to the conservation and management of natural resources for the promotion of profitable, sustainable, and climate-smart agriculture. The agricultural engineers highlighted the need to reorient the curriculum in undergraduate and postgraduate programs of agricultural engineering and extend these programs to higher education institutes to support the sustainable development of the NE region. They also emphasized the need for an Agricultural Engineering College under Assam Agricultural University to meet regional aspirations for agricultural development.
The members also expressed the need for the appointment of Subject Matter Specialists (SMS) in Agricultural Engineering in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the NE region to provide support to the farming community. They believe that SMS with an Agricultural Engineering background can effectively address various grassroots issues faced by farmers.
The meeting included discussions on organising regular conferences and seminars, expanding the network of Agricultural Engineering professionals, and mentoring students of Agricultural Engineering studying in different institutes in NE India.
The ISAE-NE meeting highlighted the importance of Agricultural Engineering in the development of agriculture and the need for strategic initiatives to advance the field in the NE region.
