The visit of President of India, Droupadi Murmu, to Meghalaya on 9th January 2025 was cancelled due to inclement weather. She was scheduled to grace the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the ICAR Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, Meghalaya.
Instead, the President delivered her address through a video message where she appreciated the ICAR Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region for its 50 years of unparalleled service and dedication, transforming challenges into opportunities and empowering the people of the North-East.
President Murmu highlighted the tribal farming systems of the North-East region, such as homestead farming and terraced farming, which are a model of sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices. She said that they are natural and organic, have low input demand and provide remarkable climate resilience and offer valuable lessons for modern agriculture around the world.
She urged scientists to engage in the documentation and validation of indigenous and traditional knowledge associated with the region’s unique crops, livestock and biodiversity. She also said that the conservation of germplasm resources is crucial to safeguarding the rich heritage of the region for future generations and ensuring agricultural sustainability.
The President stated that the ICAR Research Complex, Umiam can help in pairing local knowledge with modern technological tools and urged all stakeholders to seize the moment and join hands to forge a technology-driven, ecologically anchored agricultural resurgence.
Earlier, the program was inaugurated by the Governor of Meghalaya, C.H. Vijayashankar in the presence of Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad K Sangma and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of Meghalaya Dr. M. Amapareen Lyngdoh.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in his address, emphasised the need for developing crop varieties with longer shelf life, improved logistics, and strengthening the lab-to-land approach. “ICAR must focus on increasing the shelf life of crops and ensuring they reach consumers in the best condition. The transition of science from the lab to the field must be faster to benefit farmers directly. Natural farming, innovative technologies, and the unique potential of crops like bamboo, honey, and mushrooms must be leveraged to uplift rural livelihoods,” he added. Chouhan reiterated the importance of collaborative efforts between ICAR, agricultural universities, and government departments to chart a roadmap for sustainable agricultural growth in the region.
