Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday inaugurated the State Agriculture Information Hub-cum-Farmers’ Hostel at Naharlagun and flagged off the Matsya e-Vaahini and e-Rickshaw, with a focus on strengthening agriculture and allied sectors as sources of livelihood and entrepreneurship.
Khandu said the Agriculture Information Hub-cum-Farmers’ Hostel was the first facility of its kind in Arunachal Pradesh dedicated exclusively to farmers. He said it should be used for capacity building, knowledge-sharing, technical training and professional exposure for farmers from across the State.
“This infrastructure should not merely be used; it should be used meaningfully,” Khandu said. He said farmers could stay at the hostel and attend 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 make full use of the facility and organise training programmes based on the specific challenges and opportunities of Arunachal Pradesh.
The departments, he said, should identify experts from across the country to train farmers in modern technologies, technical know-how, value addition and market-oriented farming practices.
“Arunachal farmers are hardworking. What they need is greater technical knowledge, better market linkages and professional guidance on value addition,” the Chief Minister said.
Khandu said the State Government had accorded special priority to agriculture and allied sectors since 2019. He said bringing Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry under a coordinated ministerial framework had improved coordination among the sectors.
He said Arunachal Pradesh’s diverse agro-climatic conditions, ranging from tropical and subtropical regions in the foothills to temperate and alpine zones, offered significant 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 stressed the need for continuous training of departmental officers so they could guide farmers on modern technologies, government schemes and emerging opportunities.
On organised entrepreneurship, Khandu said platforms such as Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies and other collective enterprises had been created to help farmers and rural entrepreneurs manage their businesses and access institutional support.
Nearly 1.50 lakh women in Arunachal Pradesh have been associated with the SHG movement over the past decade, he said. Women in remote villages have also received training and taken up livelihood and business activities.
The Government has facilitated the formation of FPOs and farmer producer companies across districts to help farmers access government schemes, banking support and professional business opportunities.
Khandu announced that the State Government would soon launch a major cooperative movement by bringing together the Cooperative Department, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj institutions.
He said access to finance was crucial for farming and entrepreneurship.
“Farmers work hard, but unless they receive adequate returns, they will eventually lose motivation. Organisations such as FPOs, producer companies, SHGs and cooperatives must help them access finance, markets and professional support,” he said.
The Chief Minister urged farmers and entrepreneurs to connect with the formal banking sector and make effective use of government subsidies and institutional financing to expand their businesses.
Khandu identified value addition as a major priority for agriculture and horticulture. He called for effective utilisation of the upcoming Mega Food Park at Banderdewa, where FPOs and producer companies could be provided space and facilities for food processing and value addition.
He said the departments should coordinate to identify appropriate machinery and infrastructure for processing locally produced agricultural and horticultural commodities.
He also referred to the Mini Food Park at Namsai, where work is already underway and is expected to be completed soon.
“Our products must move beyond farms. We need a clear, product-wise roadmap to take them through value addition and into the market,” Khandu said.
The Chief Minister said Arunachal Pradesh already had a significant market for locally produced agricultural and allied products because of its strategic location and the presence of the Indian Army, ITBP and other Central Armed Police Forces.
He said the State Government had been working to promote the supply of locally produced commodities to the armed forces through cooperatives, with the initiative already being implemented in several districts.
The departments, he said, should assess the requirements of the armed forces and accordingly train farmers, provide seeds and support production of the commodities required by them.
Khandu also spoke about the market potential in fisheries, poultry, dairy, pork and other livestock products.
“Despite being a predominantly meat-consuming society, we continue to depend heavily on products brought from outside the State. This is a market opportunity that our farmers and entrepreneurs must seize,” he said.
Khandu said the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region had assigned specific responsibilities to the Chief Ministers of the eight Northeastern States to develop a roadmap for transforming key sectors by 2047.
Arunachal Pradesh has been entrusted with responsibilities particularly relating to poultry, dairy, meat and fisheries. Khandu said extensive consultations and meetings had been held over the past year and a final report was submitted during the North Eastern Council meeting held in Shillong.
The roadmap will include short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies for transforming these sectors. The State Government will provide support and funds for priority initiatives, he said.
On oil palm cultivation, Khandu said India currently imports edible oil worth around Rs 80,000 crore annually, indicating the potential for domestic production.
He said the Northeast, particularly the foothill regions of Arunachal Pradesh, offered favourable climatic conditions for oil palm cultivation because of adequate rainfall.
The State Government has already initiated oil palm cultivation in recent years and has set a target of bringing 36,000 hectares under oil palm cultivation over the next five years.
Processing infrastructure is also being developed in suitable areas, including parts of Dibang Valley, Luksin and East Siang, he said.
Khandu congratulated coffee growers on the launch of the Organic Coffee initiative under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER) programme.
He said coffee cultivation offered an opportunity for farmers and appreciated efforts to promote the crop in the State.
The Chief Minister also spoke about policies approved by the State Cabinet for strengthening agriculture and allied sectors, including the Agriculture Policy, Apiculture Policy and Horticulture Policy. He expressed confidence that the policies would create new opportunities and provide substantial benefits to farmers and young entrepreneurs in the coming years.
Khandu later flagged off the Matsya e-Vaahini and e-Rickshaw to strengthen transportation and market support for fish farmers.
He said the initiative would reduce transportation time and improve market access while addressing the challenge of middlemen taking away a major share of the profits.
The e-Rickshaw, being an environment-friendly mode of transport, would provide an additional sustainable solution for the fisheries sector.
Khandu said the initiative complemented the Central Government’s efforts to strengthen fisheries and allied sectors and expressed confidence that Arunachal Pradesh could make significant progress in fish production.
The Matsya e-Vaahini initiative, he said, would provide logistical support to fish farmers and help them connect their produce more efficiently with consumers.
During his visit to the newly inaugurated Farmers’ Hostel, Khandu inspected the rooms and directed the authorities to provide the required furniture and other essential facilities immediately.
He directed the Commissioner concerned to ensure that funds for the furniture were provided within the current financial year so that the facility could be made fully operational without delay.