Pasighat: In an effort to help farmers of the region in line with the college’s mandate, the College of Horticulture & Forestry (CHF), Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh, under the Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal, on Wednesday, conducted a state-level seminar-cum-workshop on “Exploring potential crops for food and nutritional security among hill farmers of Arunachal Pradesh.”
More than 200 farmers from East Siang, Upper Siang, Siang, Lower Dibang Valley and Lower Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, along with farmers from parts of Dhemaji district of Assam, participated in the seminar-cum-workshop. The programme was conducted with financial support from the All India Coordinated Research Network (AICRN) on Potential Crops, ICAR–NBPGR, New Delhi.
The programme began with an exposure visit to the experimental fields of the College of Horticulture & Forestry, Pasighat, followed by a field visit to buckwheat cultivation under oil palm plantations at the College of Agriculture, CAU(I), Pasighat. These visits provided farmers with hands-on learning on diversified cropping systems.
The inaugural session commenced with a welcome address by Dr L. Wangchu, Dean, CHF, Pasighat, who emphasized the importance of potential crops over rice for nutritional security, climate resilience, and sustainable hill farming.
Prof. P. Debnath, Chief Organizing Secretary, briefed participants on the objectives of the programme, the progress of potential crops in Arunachal Pradesh, future plans, and encouraged farmers through the distribution of critical inputs.
Dr Shishil Pandey, Principal Scientist, ICAR–NBPGR, New Delhi, highlighted the role of NBPGR, the Second National Gene Bank, climate change concerns, and the health benefits of buckwheat, especially for diabetic patients.
Dr S.K. Yadav, Nodal Officer, AICRN on Potential Crops, ICAR–NBPGR, New Delhi, shared insights into the journey of potential crops in the state, emphasizing value addition and income enhancement. Prof. Sanjay Swami, Dean, highlighted buckwheat as an underutilized crop suitable for intercropping in oil palm systems integrated with millets.
Meanwhile, former Kisan Morcha President of the BJP and present Vice President of the BJP, Dunggoli Libang, reiterated the Government of Arunachal Pradesh’s vision to enhance farmers’ income. He stated that the area under buckwheat cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh has increased from about 400 hectares to nearly 5,000 hectares in recent years.
The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Brijendra Singh Rajawat, Principal Scientist and Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, East Siang district.
Speaking to the media after the workshop, Dr S.K. Yadav, Dr L. Wangchu, and Prof. P. Debnath stated that the day-long programme was highly successful and had benefited farmers by providing knowledge and ideas on buckwheat cultivation.
Dr Wangchu added that based on years of observation of climatic conditions, soil, and other factors through his association with CHF, Pasighat, and the ICAR AP Centre, Basar, in West Siang district, buckwheat is among the crops best suited to the region. He said that buckwheat, locally known as ‘Phapar’, is a highly suitable and easy-to-grow crop for farmers of Arunachal Pradesh.
“From a nutritional point of view, buckwheat is a protein-rich, climate-resilient crop that requires less water and no fertilizer. It has the potential to be developed as a major crop to reduce nutritional deficiencies among children in Arunachal Pradesh,” Dr Wangchu added.