Various facilities to enhance production of poultry and piggery were launched at the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region in Umiam today to celebrate the 48th foundation day of the institute.
The facilities included a poultry seed grower cum layer house under the ICAR poultry seed project at the cost of Rs. 1.47crore with the capacity of 5000 grower and layer birds, aimed to upscale quality poultry seed production in the region, a pig shed with farrowing facility that could handle 16 sows with their piglets at a cost of Rs 86 lakhs.
Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR, New Delhi virtually inaugurated the facilities. He urged the scientific community to further develop agriculture in the north eastern region and address rural poverty. Over the decades, the institute contributed immensely towards the food security mission of the country and specifically towards the region, he added.
In his welcome address Dr. V.K Mishra, Director; ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region said that the existence of the research institute and with its six regional centres has made a deep impact in the field of agriculture of the region, but there is immense scope of improvisation in the agricultural sector in the coming years with the implementation of modern technologies.
The celebration also witnessed the felicitation of the staff for their commendable contribution towards the institute. Innovative farmers were also awarded for their contribution in the field of agriculture from the region which includes Vanlalghaka Pachau from Mizoram, Dilli Maya Bhattarai from Sikkim and Plenty Makri of Meghalaya.
Makri was awarded the best farmers award for her contribution in rain water harvesting system with integrated farming system model.
The foundation Day lecture was also held where Dr. K. M Bujarbaruah, former VC, AAU, Jorhat and former DDG, animal Sciences, ICAR and former Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region attended.
The programmed ended with a pledge to take modern agricultural technologies to the doorsteps of farming community.
