Guwahati: A new Demo Farm Lab and Training Center, established under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) scheme, was inaugurated on Tuesday in Etso Teron, Karbi Anglong.
Dr. Arun Kumar Sarma, Director General of the North East Center for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), officially inaugurated the facility.
The inauguration was marked by an interactive session with farmers. The event focused on the significance of the Demo Farm Lab in promoting organic agriculture practices in the region. The session was attended by several dignitaries including Dr. A.K. Yadav, Chief Consultant of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (MOVCD-NER), Dr. Usha Dixit, Scientist-F of the AI Division, Department of Science and Technology, and Dr. Meraj Alam Ansari, Senior Scientist in Agronomy at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (ICAR-IIFSR).
The Demo Farm Lab is a key component of NECTAR’s project, “Promoting Scientific Organic Agriculture in North East India.” This project aims to establish 250 organic clusters across the Northeastern states, training 250 Master trainers and 25,000 farmers in organic farming techniques.
During the event, Master Trainers from five selected clusters in Karbi Anglong received Android mobile phones. Additionally, a live demonstration of the Vasundhara soil testing kit was conducted. This technology, transferred to NECTAR from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, enables farmers to test their soil’s organic carbon content and pH levels.
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