Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal met an expert group of agripreneurs and academicians to explore the possibility of an agriculture-driven growth, especially for the farming community of Assam and other Northeastern states.

The expert group appraised the minister about the existing types of farming and their economic as well as ecological viability. Various aspects of farming-related to inorganic farming, organic farming and natural farming were discussed and assessed from a sustainable and economic perspective of the region. It was stressed that the growth arising out of agriculture must satiate both the ecological and economic needs of the region and its people. The team was led by Dr Bidyut Deka, Vice-Chancellor, Assam Agriculture University (AAU).

After careful deliberation, Sonowal requested the expert group to prepare a comprehensive report on the feasibility of organic and natural farming so that it becomes a roadmap and approach for any future policy-related discussion at the highest level of the government.

The report will be prepared under the aegis of the Assam Agriculture University (AAU) with highlights of successful agripreneurs of the state involved in organic as well as natural farming and comparative examination of the Northeast region.

Elaborating on the point of sustainable farming in the region, the minister said, “The use of modern technology and expert techniques must be used smartly to reap the benefits of farming in our region. We must learn from our roots and adopt modern techniques so that we can achieve sustainable development. It must respect the ecological balance of our region and at the same time attain economic prosperity for our farming community. We believe that there is a huge opportunity for the farming community from the region to avail benefit and become an important stakeholder in expanding the AYUSH based industry in the entire Northeast.”

Other members of the group were Dr P K Pathak, Director, External Education, AAU; Dr M Saikia, Associate Director, Research, AAU; Dr K Pathak, Head, Department of Agronomy; Dr S Pathak, Principal, HRS, Kahikuchi; Jayanta Malla Bujarbaruah, Natural Farmer from Nalbari; Banamali Chowdhury, Organic farmer from Mirza and Er Krishna Saikia, Technical Consultant, Tetelia Agro Organic Producers.