HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, June 25: Assam Agriculture, Irrigation and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika on Thursday called for a strategic shift from traditional paddy cultivation to high-value horticultural crops, urging scientists, policymakers and stakeholders to work together to transform the state’s agricultural economy.
The Minister was addressing an Interface Meeting jointly organised by Assam Agricultural University (AAU) and the Department of Agriculture at the Assam Administrative Staff College.
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The meeting brought together academicians, agricultural scientists, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), NABARD representatives and officials from allied departments, including Fisheries, Irrigation, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Horticulture and Sericulture.
Describing the event as a first-of-its-kind multi-stakeholder initiative, Hazarika stressed the need for closer collaboration between scientific institutions and government agencies to modernise Assam’s agriculture sector.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister observed that despite India’s substantial agricultural exports, Assam’s contribution remains limited and requires urgent attention.
He also highlighted the country’s dependence on imported pulses and edible oils and called for enhanced production to achieve self-sufficiency in commodities such as eggs, fish, poultry and pork.
With nearly 75 lakh people dependent on agriculture in the state, Hazarika emphasised the need to expand irrigation coverage, noting that only about 24 per cent of Assam’s agricultural land is currently irrigated.
He advocated replacing low-profit traditional paddy cultivation with high-value horticultural crops, encouraging farmers to diversify into commercially viable produce such as areca nut, litchi and black pepper to significantly enhance rural incomes.
Calling upon Assam Agricultural University to play a proactive role, the Minister urged researchers and scientists to identify region-specific crops, develop climate-resilient seed varieties and provide scientific guidance to farmers through sustained collaboration with the Agriculture Department.
He said the interface should serve as a bridge between scientific research and practical farming, helping transform Assam’s agriculture from subsistence-based cultivation into a profitable and market-oriented sector.
The inaugural session was attended by Agriculture Department Commissioner and Secretary Aruna Rajoria, Assam Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dipjyoti Rajkhowa, Chief General Manager of NABARD Assam G Ramesh Kumar and other senior officials and experts from the agriculture sector.
