New Delhi, July 7: Agriculture minister Gabriel D Wangsu on Monday sought robust institutional support from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to boost the state’s agriculture, horticulture, and allied sectors, while addressing the 96th Annual General Meeting of the ICAR Society here.
Wangsu presented a detailed 10-point proposal, highlighting the state’s unique agro-climatic potential and its significant contribution to India’s kiwi production.
The meeting was chaired by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who also serves as president of the ICAR Society. Union Ministers Bhagirath Choudhary and Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh also attended the event, which included presentations on ICAR’s progress, release of new publications and technologies, and discussions on state-specific agricultural priorities.
Wangsu proposed the establishment of a Central Kiwi Research Institute in Arunachal Pradesh, citing the state’s contribution of over 60% to India’s total kiwi production. He also sought the creation of a Multidisciplinary Organic Agriculture University focused on region-specific research and organic certification.
Other key demands included upgradation of the ICAR Research Station at Basar into a full-fledged directorate for mid-hill zone studies, sanctioning of 10 new Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for newly created districts, and release of funds for eight already-approved KVKs.
In addition, the minister urged for the setting up of a Fisheries College and a Veterinary College in the state to address the acute shortage of skilled professionals in these sectors. He called for the creation of a BSL-II laboratory to enhance early detection and control of zoonotic and livestock diseases.
Wangsu also emphasized strengthening of the National Research Centre on Yak at Dirang, along with the establishment of sub-centres for NRC-Mithun and ICAR-CIRC. He advocated for precision livestock farming using advanced sensors and systems and promoted silvopastoral farming along with production of quality maize and soybean for low-cost feed.
The minister further suggested setting up schools of agriculture, horticulture, animal science and fisheries, along with short-term post-secondary technical programs modelled after Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to develop human resources in the agri-allied sectors.
The AGM also saw the release of ICAR’s latest publications and technologies, presentation of the annual report, and discussion of audited accounts for the financial year 2023-24.
