Nongpoh, Nov 17: Meghalaya Governor Chandrashekhar H Vijayashankar has expressed concern that rural economies have become dependent on urban centres, calling it an unhealthy trend for national development.
The Governor, who inaugurated the three-day regional agricultural fair at the College of Agriculture at Kyrdemkulai, Ri-Bhoi today, highlighted how traditional farming systems and rural industries once enabled villages to remain self-sufficient. He said with nearly 70 per cent of India’s population living in rural areas and dependent on agriculture, it is essential to safeguard both farmers’ interests and agricultural land.
He proposed categorising agricultural land into irrigated land, horticulture land, fertile land, and dry land – stressing that any non-agricultural land acquisition should begin only from dry land, and that irrigated and horticulture land must be strictly protected.
The Governor urged policymakers and experts to adopt a long-term approach that ensures agricultural land remains dedicated to farming and that technological advancements benefit even the remotest villages.
He praised CAU Imphal for its contribution to agricultural development across the seven Northeastern states through its 13 constituent colleges, KVKs, and research centres. He also welcomed the initiative to develop a Vision Document for Agricultural Transformation in Northeast India by 2047, calling it a step toward creating a modern, sustainable, and globally competitive agricultural sector.
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Timothy D. Shira highlighted key schemes and policies implemented in Meghalaya that have significantly benefited farmers across the state.
Member of Parliament Kamakhya Prasad Tasa expressed enthusiasm for the drone technology initiatives under CAU (Imphal) and urged the university to intensify efforts to uplift the region’s agricultural sector.
CAU Imphal Vice-Chancellor Dr. Anupam Mishra emphasised the university’s commitment to shaping futuristic agricultural professionals who will contribute to a sustainable and technologically empowered future.
He also highlighted that the fair featured 74 stalls from Farmer Producer Organisations, entrepreneurs, and agri-startups from across the North East, along with eight live demonstration platforms and 10 food stalls showcasing local cuisines.
The fair themed, ‘Reaching the Last Mile with Agri-Revolution’ drew participation from around 1,600 farmers and stakeholders.
The inaugural function saw the inauguration of the boys’ hostel and exhibition stalls, release of the RAF Souvenir, CAU Newsletter and CAU Farm Magazine, presentation of Best Extension Professional Awards.
