Funds sanctioned for seed, material hubs: Director
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 28 2025: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) -Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI) Zone VII director Dr AK Mohinta has informed that funds have been sanctioned to set up a seed hub and quality planting material hub in all of the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) under ICAR.

He made the announcement during the inaugural function of a three-day workshop on 'action plan for KVKs under ICAR-ATARI Zone VII for the year 2025-26', at Central Agricultural University (CAU), Iroisemba on Monday.

Organised jointly by ICAR-ATARI Zone VII and CAU, Imphal, the inaugural function was attended by CAU VC Dr Anupam Mishra as chief guest and former union minister Thounaojam Chaoba as special guest, while CAU College of Agriculture dean Prof Indira Sarangthem, Institute of Co-operative Management (ICM), Imphal director Kh Rangamliam Aimol and CAU Extension Education director Prof Ph Ranjit Sharma were the guests of honour.

In his speech, Dr AK Mohinta informed that a Rural Ethnic Business Incubation Centre would be opened at the KVKs of Imphal East and Thoubal districts as pilot projects.

The agricultural technologies worked out at the laboratories of KVKs play an important role in the agriculture sector, he added.

Although there have been some inconveniences, various new projects have been taken up at the KVKs under ICAR-ATARI Zone VII.

Apart from this, both CAU and research institutes have been conducting training programmes to train the youth in rural areas and provide additional information to subject matter specialists at KVKs, he conveyed.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Anupam Mishra pointed out that climate change has greatly impacted farming activities.

He then highlighted the increasing utilisation of AI and IT tools in agriculture, while further stressing the need to assess the accuracy of data available through remote sensing and GIS.

All of these issues need to be incorporated in the action plan, he stressed.

As part of the function, a Rural Ethnic Business Incubation Centre for KVKs was inaugurated, along with release of a publication and video film on the same.

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