Linking of innovative agriculture technologies to farms

Context

The Centre will work towards linking innovative agricultural technologies with the farms under the Biotech-KISAN program in the Northeastern region.

About the initiative

• Under the program, the local issues of farmers are to be considered and they would be provided with the scientific solutions.
• The program is targeted to benefit small and marginal farmers, especially women.
• The program is an initiative supported by the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science & Technology.
• The hubs in NER will collaborate with the top scientific institutions across the country as well as State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) / Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) / existing state agriculture extension services/system and other farmers’ organizations.

Why North East Region is chosen?

• The North-East Region is predominantly agrarian and 70 percent of its workforce is engaged in agriculture and allied sectors for livelihood.
• However, the region produces merely 1.5 percent of the country’s food grain. It depends on imports for its domestic consumption.
• The NE region has untapped potential to enhance the income of the farming population by promoting location-specific crops, horticultural and plantation crops, fisheries, and livestock production.