Guwahati: In a state where difficult terrain, limited market access and natural hazards pose persistent challenges to rural development, a new geothermal-powered drying facility in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh‘s West Kameng district, aims to turn the earth’s natural heat into an economic resource for farmers.
Science and Technology Minister Dasanglu Pul inaugurated the facility on Tuesday, highlighting its potential to reduce post-harvest losses, increase the value of local produce and create new livelihood opportunities.
The initiative also raises a broader development question for Arunachal Pradesh: how can scientific research be translated into practical solutions for communities living in a mountainous region that is rich in natural resources but vulnerable to natural disasters?
The facility will use geothermal heat to dry and preserve agricultural and livestock products, including kiwi, apples, persimmons and yak meat. By extending the shelf life of these products, the technology could help farmers reduce wastage and explore markets beyond their immediate production areas.
The project has been funded by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, with gap funding from the Arunachal Pradesh government.
For a state with diverse agro-climatic conditions and a wide range of locally produced commodities, post-harvest management remains important for improving agricultural returns. The ability to preserve produce could help farmers overcome some of the challenges associated with transporting fresh products over long distances.
However, the facility’s wider impact will depend on its accessibility to farmers, operating costs and the potential to scale up the technology for use at other production centres.
The Dirang facility represents an effort to take earth sciences beyond research laboratories and apply them to the agricultural economy.
Geothermal energy, derived from heat within the earth, can be used for applications such as heating and drying. In Dirang, the technology is being deployed to preserve products that could otherwise face storage and transportation challenges.
Pul said the initiative would help translate scientific research into practical solutions for farmers and rural communities.
She said the technology could minimise post-harvest losses, increase the market value of local produce, improve farmers’ incomes and generate sustainable livelihood opportunities.
The minister, who also chairs the Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CES&HS), acknowledged the technical cooperation extended by Norway and Iceland in developing the facility.
The involvement of international partners also highlights the potential for scientific collaboration in addressing challenges specific to mountain regions.
Norwegian Ambassador to India May-Elin Stener attended the inauguration, along with Dirang MLA and advisor to the minister Phurpa Tsering, as well as scientists and experts from India, Norway and Iceland.
While the geothermal project focuses on generating livelihood opportunities, Pul used the occasion to highlight another scientific intervention that she described as critical to the state’s long-term safety.
She urged the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences to issue the sanction order for the already-approved Seismic MicroZonation Project in Arunachal Pradesh.
The demand comes against the backdrop of the state’s high earthquake vulnerability. Arunachal Pradesh falls under Seismic Zone V, India’s highest seismic hazard classification.
Seismic microzonation involves assessing earthquake hazards at a more localised level by taking into account factors such as ground conditions and the characteristics of different areas.
Such assessments can help identify locations that may experience varying levels of ground shaking during an earthquake. The findings can inform land-use planning, infrastructure development and disaster preparedness.
For a mountainous state where settlements, roads and other infrastructure are often located in challenging terrain, a more detailed understanding of earthquake risks could strengthen planning and reduce vulnerabilities.
Pul said the project was crucial for improving disaster preparedness and facilitating safer infrastructure planning.
The proposed initiative would complement broader efforts to integrate scientific assessments into development planning across the state.
Pul also thanked Chief Minister Pema Khandu for encouraging scientific innovation and sustainable development.
Welcoming Stener on her maiden visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the minister expressed hope that the Dirang initiative would encourage greater international cooperation in renewable energy, scientific research and technology transfer.
The programme was attended by Ministry of Earth Sciences Scientist-G and advisor Dr Jagvir Singh and Oil India Limited Director (Exploration and Development) Soloma Yomdo.
Pul congratulated CES&HS director Tana Tage and his team, Oil India Limited and the international partners for their contributions to the project.
Emphasising the need to make scientific advancements accessible to ordinary people, she said the true success of science lay not merely in laboratory achievements but in bringing positive changes to people’s lives.
Pul said the Dirang facility could serve as a model for similar initiatives across Arunachal Pradesh.
The challenge ahead, however, will be to ensure that such scientific interventions move beyond demonstration projects and become accessible, economically viable solutions for local communities.
If the geothermal unit helps farmers preserve their produce and improve returns, while seismic microzonation strengthens the state’s understanding of earthquake risks, the two initiatives could demonstrate how earth sciences can contribute to both economic development and public safety in the Himalayan region.