Shillong, Jan 8: The recent inauguration of Administrative-cum-Academic Block and Girls’ hostel of the Agriculture College at Kyrdemkulai by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar is a boost to the state.
In a statement, Dr. UK Behera, Dean, College of Agriculture, CAU, Kyrdemkulai, said that the institute, a constituent college of Central Agricultural University, Imphal, was established in 2015. In the college, the students from the Northeast and other parts of the country pursue B.Sc. (Ag). Hons.
Four batches of students have passed out from the college.
During the visit of the union minister, there was farmers-scientists interaction.
Dr. Anupam Mishra, Vice-Chancellor of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, highlighted the achievements of the college and explained about the impact of the college on farmers’ economy by its various farmers” welfare activities and projects. In the programme more than 150 farmers, about 50 scientists/line department officers, about 100 students and other stake holders including NGOs were present. After the inaugural programme, there was distribution of agricultural inputs (1000 four-weeks old poultry chicks, pig feeds, milking cane, farm implements, different types of vegetable seeds, planting materials ( Assam lemon, black pepper) etc. to the farmers by the minister.
The union minister informed the farmers about various farmers’ welfare programmes initiated and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for the welfare of the farmers of NEH region. He praised the farmers’ practising organic and natural farming in North East, including Meghalaya. He informed that the organic and natural farming products of the Northeast India have unique qualities and have great demand in the international markets.
Tomar and other dignitaries visited the natural and organic-based integrated farming systems’ model in the instructional farm of the college.
The minister also congratulated the Dean of the College and the Vice Chancellor of the University for developing agro-tourism based Integrated farming system model, in which spring water is harvested and utilised for sustaining the crops and live stocks. He appreciated that this model can be a master plan and potential tool for the development of the small and marginal farmers of the region and can go a long way in improving the livelihood of the tribal and resource poor farmers of the region.
