During last week, quite a few number of activities were noticed in the state that related to seeking avenues for betterment of the state’s farming community. There had been Technology Week observation, Workshop on Entrepreneurship Development and zonal review meet to discuss ways for adoption of schemes that would contribute to attainment of the national target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. And the common aspect that has emerged from all these is, if real empowerment of the state’s farmers is to be brought, more technology and research-based initiatives are necessary as supplementary processes. This necessity has already been felt and with the fast changing facets of agriculture, it will be felt more acutely in near future. Decline of Mandarin Orange of Wakro area due to diseases is perhaps a great lesson to learn. It has pointed that unless the latest ‘fruits’ of agricultural researches reach the farming fields of the state in a more desirable manner, agrarian prosperity will remain a dream altogether and the 2022 objective will be too difficult to attain.

Agriculture is unquestionably the mainstay of Indian economy and the statement holds equally true for Arunachal as well. Its climatic conditions and soil are suitable for a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, flowers etc besides the traditional crops, all having steady commercial markets. Still, despite so much hard work by the farming community, the state has not been able to reach that commanding platform as compared to the mainland states. The reasons are quite basic in nature and these are as the results of ‘gaps’ that can be noticed right from the farming fields to the equally vital aspects of storage and marketing. Productivity hasn’t risen to ideal levels due to insufficiency of adoption of new technologies and when it comes to storage and marketing, the story is also almost the same. Actually, there has been a vacuum and the outputs of research activities are somehow reaching inadequately or late to the state’s farmers, thus resulting in stagnation. 16 KVKs and one National Research Centre on Yak in West Kemang, that’s all about the institutional presence of ICAR in state. With still no presence of full-fledged Central Agricultural Universities, Deemed Universities as well as State Agricultural Universities, how can it be expected that the much needed synergy between agricultural research and its on-the-field application would happen here. This is something the Union Ministry of Agriculture needs to think upon seriously.

It must be realised that when it comes to prospects of reaching the 2022 dream, Arunachal has a good potential to reach the target. But for that, it must be armed with 21st century research and education infrastructure which will be its permanent assets. Along with on-going schemes and programmes, this is perhaps the aspect that needs greater attention.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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