SHILLONG, July 5: The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) Barapani Chapter, in collaboration with the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam in Meghalaya, hosted a pivotal Brainstorming Session titled ‘Positioning Northeast Agriculture Towards Amrit Kaal’ on Friday.
Prominent agricultural scientists, researchers, and policymakers participated in the session to discuss strategies for aligning the region’s agricultural growth with the visionary goals of Amrit Kaal. K.M Bujarbaruah, vice-president of NAAS, former deputy director general (AS), ICAR, New Delhi, and former vice-chancellor of Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, chaired the session and summarised the key insights and future directions for Northeast agriculture, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving the goals of Amrit Kaal.
Bujarbaruah in his opening remarks emphasised that one of the basic objectives of the meeting was to see how in the best possible way to use the biodiversity of the region and convert it to bio resources in order to achieve a bio economy.
Related Posts:
K Mishra, director of ICAR RC NEH and convener of NAAS Barapani Chapter, delivered the welcome address where he expressed his happiness that this session was being held at ICAR, Umiam when the Institute was celebrating its 50th year of existence from Amrit Bhawan at Laban Shillong to Amrit Kaal.
A series of keynote lectures followed, featuring insights from distinguished experts in various fields of agriculture.
S.K. Barik, professor at NEHU Shillong and former director of CSIR NBRI, Lucknow, gave a presentation on ‘Transforming Food Systems to Support Biodiversity’, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices in preserving biodiversity.
Pattanayak, former director of ICAR IIAB, Ranchi, and ICAR VPKAS, Almor spoke on ‘Strategic Roadmap for Crop Sector Growth in Northeast India: Aligning with Amrit Kaal Goals’, outlining strategies to boost crop productivity.
He also emphasised that with the prevailing situations more scientific work could be done on flood tolerant rice varieties and it was high time to look into areas of animal dominance like the extensive growth of monkeys at places in Assam, which aws hampering the growth of crop productivity.
Kadirvel, director of ICAR ATARI Zone VI, Guwahati, delivered an engaging lecture on ‘Agricultural Startups to Transform NE Agriculture to Meet Amrit Kaal Requirements’, focusing on the role of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Anup Das, director of ICAR RCER, Patna, spoke on ‘Exploring Organic & Natural Farming as Drivers of Green Economy’, emphasising the potential of organic farming in driving sustainable economic growth.
The session also featured N.H. Mohan, national fellow and principal scientist at ICAR NRC on Pig, Guwahati, who discussed ‘Animal Agriculture of NE in Amrit Kaal’, focusing on improving livestock productivity and health.
The final keynote lecture by S.K. Majhi, head of ICAR CIFRI Regional Centre, Guwahati, on ‘Taking NE Fisheries towards Amrit Kaal’, explored opportunities and challenges in advancing the fisheries sector in Northeast India.
In his closing remarks chairman K M Bujarbaruah mentioned that the Northeast had missed the green revolution ‘Bus’. However, it was the time to lead the ‘Ever Green Revolution Bus’.
He mentioned that one should work in areas of seed self-sufficiency, water saving device technology, conservation agriculture and harvesting green energy. (NNN)
