HT Correspondent
NAGAON, Feb 15: A ceremonial procurement of paddy seeds was organised on Sunday at Senchowa Seed Farm, Nagaon, marking a significant step toward strengthening climate-resilient seed systems in Assam under the AAU–Norway collaborative UPSCALE project.
The event was organised by Gram Bikash Uttar Asom Prant in collaboration with Assam Agricultural University, reinforcing the project’s focus on improving access to quality seeds, promoting local seed production and enhancing farmer resilience to climate variability.
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Delegates from the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Dr Uday Shekhar Nagothu and Haane Sorlien, along with a representative from the Norwegian Embassy, Gauri Bandekar, attended the programme, demonstrating continued international support for resilient agricultural development in Assam. Representatives from partner organisations such as the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation and Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology were also present, reflecting the collaborative, multi-institutional approach of UPSCALE.
Dr Sanjay Kr Chetia, Director of Research (Agriculture), AAU, addressed the gathering and emphasised that strengthening decentralised seed production systems is essential for long-term agricultural sustainability, productivity and climate adaptation in the state. He noted that initiatives such as community-based seed multiplication and procurement directly contribute to UPSCALE’s objective of building resilient farming systems.
Dr Niranjan Deka, Principal Scientist, AAU-ZRS, Shillongani, welcomed the delegation. Subsequently, all the dignitaries flagged off the procurement of the flood-tolerant paddy variety Ranjit-Sub1, underscoring the project’s emphasis on climate-smart crop varieties suited to Assam’s agro-ecological challenges.
The presence of state officials, including the Joint Director from the Department of Agriculture, the Branch Manager of Assam Seed Corporation Ltd., the District Agricultural Officer of Nagaon district and the District Project Manager from the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission, highlighted the institutional convergence fostered through UPSCALE. Such partnerships are crucial for scaling climate-resilient technologies, strengthening seed value chains and ensuring that quality seeds reach smallholder farmers in a timely manner.
