The Regional Agricultural Research Station of Assam Agricultural University at Akbarpur in Karimganj, the oldest rice research station of eastern India, on Tuesday, observed the Farmers’ Day.
Almost 1,000 farmers from the three districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi participated at the event.
A field exhibition was also organised on the occasion.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Atul Bargohain, Associate Director of Extension Education (Veterinary) of Assam Agricultural University.
A stall exhibition of agricultural and allied sector was also organised at the event. It was inaugurated by North Karimganj MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purakayastha.
The exhibition was participated by all the line departments, self help groups, NGOs, private seed and fertilizer companies.
Dr. Mrinal Saikia, Associate Director of Research (Agriculture) of Assam Agricultural University chaired the formal meeting of the Farmers’ Day.
Manabendra Dev Ray, superintendant of police of Karimganj, R.K. Laskar, district development commissioner, Karimganj, J.P. Matahni, Commandant, 7 Bn of BSF, and district agricultural officers of Karimganj and Hailakandi addressed the farmers.
The agriculture research station at Akbarpur in Karimganj district was established in 1913. It was the first of its kind in eastern India.
The first rice germplasm – KMZ 1 – was developed by renowned agronomist Nalini Ranjan Roy in 1967.
At present, the Regional Agricultural Research Station of AAU preserves more than 3,583 rice germplasms of India and abroad as a gene bank of rice.
