Strategizing Himalayan Agriculture: Calls for Specialized Policies and Education

Arunachal Pradesh's Agriculture Minister, Gabriel D Wangsu, emphasized the urgent need for state-specific agricultural policies to address the unique challenges of Himalayan and hilly regions. Speaking at a national conference at ICAR in New Delhi, he urged for government support in land terracing for soil and water conservation to enhance crop expansion.

The minister proposed the establishment of Agricultural Science schools, akin to Industrial Training Institutes, to educate unemployed youth in modern farming techniques. This initiative aims to rejuvenate interest among younger generations in agriculture by providing formal education, thus addressing the issue of an ageing farming community.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who chaired the conference, announced a 2025-26 production target of 362.50 million tonnes and assured sufficient seed and resource availability. He introduced the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' under the 'Lab to Land' initiative, striving to enhance pulse and oilseed productivity and tackle counterfeit agro-inputs.

(With inputs from agencies.)