Arunachal Appeals for Enhanced Seed Funding and Focus on Organic Farming

Arunachal Pradesh is urging the central government to boost its support for the agriculture sector, particularly in areas of seed funding and organic farming. This call comes from state minister Gabriel D Wangsu during a national agricultural conference, seeking enhanced focus on these critical areas for the northeast region.

Wangsu emphasized the necessity of distributing high-quality seeds on time, which he believes is crucial for improving farm productivity and food security. He advocated for the development of certified seed varieties tailored to the northeast's unique climatic conditions and called for empowering local companies to produce region-specific seeds.

The minister also highlighted the need for substantial financial support due to the high cost of certified seeds and limited purchasing power among farmers. He proposed the further promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, considering the state's predominantly organic nature, and suggested introducing an Organic Bio-based Crop Protection Scheme at the national level.

To address challenges faced by remote area farmers, Wangsu called for increased support through the Seed Village Programme and the Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP) for training, infrastructure, and seed distribution improvements.

(With inputs from agencies.)