Arunachal gives priority to agriculture, allied sectors since 2019: CM Pema Khandu

Itanagar, Sep 7 (IANS) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday said that the state government has accorded special priority to the agriculture and allied sectors since 2019, with a coordinated approach among the Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry departments yielding significant results. The Chief Minister on Monday inaugurated the State Agriculture Information Hub-cum-Farmers' Hostel at Naharlagun and flagged off the Matsya e-Vaahini and e-Rickshaw, describing the initiatives as important additions to the state's efforts to transform agriculture and allied sectors into sustainable and profitable avenues of livelihood and entrepreneurship. Addressing the function, he said that Arunachal farmers are hardworking and what they need is greater technical knowledge, better market linkages and professional guidance on value addition. Khandu recalled that before 2019, the four departments were handled under separate ministerial portfolios, resulting in inadequate coordination. To address this, the state government brought the allied sectors under a coordinated ministerial framework. He said Arunachal Pradesh was uniquely blessed with diverse agro-climatic conditions ranging from tropical and subtropical regions in the foothills to temperate and alpine zones, providing immense potential for agriculture and horticulture. 'With such diverse climatic conditions, Arunachal Pradesh is one of the best States in the country for farming. We must make full use of this natural advantage,' he said. The Chief Minister also emphasised the need for continuous training of departmental officers so that they could effectively guide farmers on modern technologies, government schemes and emerging opportunities. Highlighting the importance of organised entrepreneurship, Khandu said the government has created platforms such as Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies and other collective enterprises to help farmers and rural entrepreneurs professionally manage their businesses and access institutional support. He said nearly 1.50 lakh women in Arunachal Pradesh have been associated with the SHG movement over the past decade, with women in even remote villages receiving training and successfully taking up various livelihood and business activities. The government has also facilitated the formation of FPOs and farmer producer companies across districts to enable farmers to access government schemes, banking support and professional business opportunities. 'This infrastructure should not merely be used; it should be used meaningfully,' Khandu said, adding that farmers would be able to stay at the hostel and participate in week-long or longer specialised training programmes on specific crops and allied activities. He urged the Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry to utilise the facility to its fullest potential and organise training programmes suited to the specific challenges and opportunities of Arunachal Pradesh. The departments, he said, should identify the best experts from across the country and expose farmers to modern technologies, technical know-how, value addition and market-oriented farming practices. --IANS sc/uk