Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Arjun Munda, virtually inaugurated several key facilities at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), in Dhemaji, Assam, on March 4.
The inauguration included the Administrative-cum-academic Building, Manas Guest House, Subansiri Girls Hostel, and Brahmaputra Boys Hostel, marking a significant milestone in agricultural research and development in the North-Eastern States.
Expressing his vision for the institute, Minister Arjun Munda emphasized IARI’s role as a crucial hub for agricultural research and development in the region. He highlighted the Union Government’s efforts, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to bridge developmental gaps in the agricultural sector and integrate North-Eastern States into the mainstream.
Munda commended the institute for introducing masters courses in various disciplines since 2015-16 and urged graduates to not only excel as agricultural experts but also emerge as successful entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Kailash Choudhary, echoed Munda’s sentiments, urging scientists to leverage the natural diversity of the Northeast region for agricultural research. He emphasized the importance of focusing on research related to pulses and oilseeds.
Himansu Pathak, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director-General of ICAR elaborated on IARI’s objectives and mandates, stressing the need to harness the vast potential of North-East India through research and development.
Ranoj Pegu, Minister of Education, Welfare of Plain Tribes, and Backward Classes, Government of Assam, lauded IARI’s efforts and highlighted the importance of its research in enhancing plant, animal, and fish diversity while contributing to environmental conservation.
The event was attended by Pradan Baruah, Member of Parliament (Lakhimpur); AK Singh, Director of IARI; Ankur Bharali, District Commissioner of Dhemaji, along with several scientists from IARI-ICAR and other dignitaries, further underscoring the significance of the occasion.
