Union Agriculture Minister virtually inaugurates ICAR-ATARI Guwahati’s New Administrative Building

“The North-Eastern States can be developed as a hub of Organic Farming along with Natural Farming”, said Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. Shri Tomar was addressing the virtual inaugural ceremony of the New Built Administrative Building of the ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone - 6, Guwahati, Assam held at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi today.

The Union Minister applauded the unparalleled roles played by the Krishi Vigyan Kendras in providing crops' diversification and good quality seeds in the country. This has accelerated the progress of the country, he added. Shri Tomar emphasized on the need to adopt the natural farming practices on a larger scale. The Union Minister outlined the vision of promoting the Oil Palms’ farming in the North-East States.

Shri Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare regarded the inauguration of the New Administrative Building of ICAR-ATARI, Guwahati as a new dimension in the various progresses made by the Council. The Minister highlighted the aim to enhance the use of Drone and Nano Technologies in the agricultural sector. The need to include the women farmers in the Farmers’ FIRST Programme was stressed by the Minister. Shri Choudhary accentuated on linking the country’s distant farmers with the Farmers’ Producers’ Organizations.

Smt. Queen Oja, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Guwahati, Assam applauded the KVK’s role in developing the agriculture in the North-East India.

Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) underlined the Council’s main objective to link 81 Villages of 44 Districts of the North-East States. The trial of Nano Urea in 9 Districts that has resulted in enhancement in the yield by 15% to 20% was highlighted by Dr. Mohapatra. The DG accentuated that the ICAR-ATARI, Guwahati will promote the integrated farming.

Earlier, delivering the welcome address, Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR said that the KVKs of Assam, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are strengthening the FPOs of the North-East States.

The Deputy Directors General and Senior Officials of ICAR and its Institutes also participated in the event.

Dr. A.K. Tripathi, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Guwahati, Assam proposed the vote of thanks.

(Source: ICAR-Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture, New Delhi)