The ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH) Region, Umiam, celebrated its 51st Foundation Day, marking over five decades of service to agricultural research and development in the North East.
The celebrations began with the dignitaries’ visit to exhibition stalls showcasing innovative technologies, publications and farmer-centric initiatives of the institute.
S Hazarika, Director, highlighted the various developmental initiatives undertaken by the institute. He emphasized that there is no room for complacency as the agricultural landscape is continuously evolving. He further stressed the need for meticulous development of innovative technologies to effectively respond to these changes and ensure the long-term sustainability of agriculture.
G Kadirvel, Director of ICAR-ATARI, Zone–VI Guwahati, recalled the establishment of the institute under the leadership of MS Swaminathan and highlighted its strong growth over the years. He paid tribute to past leaders for their contributions to its development and noted the institute’s role in advancing societal development in the region.
AK Mohanty, Director of ICAR-ATARI, Zone–VII Umiam, described the occasion as a “red-letter day” and emphasised the need to reflect on achievements, assess current challenges and reaffirm future commitments. He highlighted the importance of planning research to address existing deficits, reduce post-harvest losses and integrate agri-entrepreneurship while bridging research, policy and scientific gaps to promote sustainable agriculture.
SV Ngachan, former director of ICAR–RC NEH, emphasised that the technologies developed by the institute must be farmer-friendly to ensure wider adoption. He stressed the relevance of natural farming in the present era, noting that changing food habits have impacted public health. He highlighted that natural farming practices can enable the production of safe, nutritious and healthy food, benefiting both farmers and consumers.
The Foundation Day Lecture was delivered by VK Mishra, former director of ICAR RC NEH, who reflected on the evolution of the institute and emphasised future priorities in farmer-oriented research and technology dissemination. He also gave a presentation on ‘Emerging Opportunities in the Agriculture Sector of North Eastern Region – Carbon Credit’.
KM Bujarbaruah, former Vice-Chancellor of Assam Agricultural University (AAU) in Jorhat, emphasised that agriculture today stands at a crossroads, driven by three key pillars – Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). He noted that the sector is undergoing rapid transformation and that a “micro green revolution” would play a crucial role in enhancing farmers’ income and ensuring sustainability.
During the programme, ICAR publications, the “Farm School on Air” initiative, and three animal disease diagnostic kits—BruLisDuplex-qPCR Kit, ASFV NestSure Kit, and BruScan SRCA Kit—were released. Agricultural inputs were also distributed to farmers.
