The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has given special attention to the North East by earmarking 10 per cent of its total fund for the region keeping in view its strategic locations and topography.

This was stated by ICAR Director General Dr S Ayyappan during his maiden visit to ICAR complex here in West Siang district today.

“Our main focus will be to strengthen farm mechanisation and providing food security to the people of the region besides initiating efforts to minimise post harvest losses,” he said.

Stating that the Council would give more focus to develop the horticulture sector of the region, Ayyappan said cultivation of mandarin oranges would provide a suitable return to the farmers.

“If the state government agrees we can prepare a blue print for seed production in the state with necessary market linkages,” Ayyappan said.

“The vision of the Centre is to bring a Green Revolution in the North East and ICAR is putting all its efforts in this direction,” he said.

With the central scheme, Knowledge Innovative and Repository of Agriculture in North-East (KIRAN), he said, the Council would help the farmers to go for cultivation of crops suitable to their respective state’s agro-climatic condition and soil type.

To a query, he said the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), a central flagship programme launched in 100 locations of the country, could be expanded to Arunachal Pradesh to help farmers in water harvesting, protected farming, and integrated farming projects besides.

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