Assam Minister for Agriculture, Irrigation, and Parliamentary Affairs, Pijush Hazarika, chaired an Interface Meeting organised by the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) and the Department of Agriculture at Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati on Thursday.
The first-of-its-kind multi-stakeholder conclave brought together academicians, agriculture scientists, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), financial institutions like NABARD, and key allied departments like Fisheries, Irrigation, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Sericulture etc. to forge a collaborative approach to modernizing the state’s farm sector.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister delivered a clarion call to action, noting that while India exports billions of dollars in agricultural products like tea, meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables, Assam’s contribution remains minimal and must be urgently rectified.
He highlighted the national economic drain caused by importing pulses and edible oils, emphasising that Assam must scale up production to achieve complete self-sufficiency in eggs, fish, poultry, and pork, thereby eliminating reliance on other states.
With nearly 75 lakh people in Assam dependent on farming, the Minister stressed the critical need to expand the state’s current irrigation coverage, which stands at just 24% of agricultural land.
He advocated for a massive, strategic shift from traditional paddy cultivation—which offers low profit margins—toward high-value horticulture, urging a concentrated focus on lucrative cash crops like Areca nut, litchi, and black pepper to exponentially drive up rural incomes.
Directing his mandate to the academic community, Minister Hazarika called upon the experts and researchers of AAU to utilise this collaborative platform to guide the department in selecting region-specific crops and developing climate-resilient seeds and saplings.
He concluded that this interface must serve as a dynamic bridge connecting scientific research directly to the fields, transforming Assam’s agricultural landscape from basic subsistence to a highly profitable commercial enterprise.
The inaugural session of the meeting was attended by Commissioner and Secretary of Agriculture Department Aruna Rajoria, VC AAU Dipjyoti Rajkhowa, Chief General Manager of NABARD Assam unit G. Ramesh Kumar among other dignitaries.
Assam Agriculture Minister Calls For Region-Specific Crop Transformation
