NEW DELHI, 29 Sep: Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu on Tuesday called for a region-specific approach to agricultural development in the hill state.

He stressed the need to combine modern science and technology with indigenous knowledge, traditional varieties and local farming practices.

Addressing dignitaries at the national conference on agriculture for Rabi Campaign 2026, held at the Bharat Ratna C Subramaniam auditorium, NASC Complex, Pusa in New Delhi, Wangsu said Arunachal's difficult terrain and geographically dispersed farming areas require solutions designed specifically for the state.

He described the approach as "tailor-made agriculture," aimed at improving value and income for farmers rather than simply increasing production.

He said that Arunachal's agricultural diversity and traditional knowledge provide a strong foundation for developing an approach that combines scientific advancement with locally evolved farming practices.

A key issue raised by the minister was the conservation and promotion of indigenous crop varieties and germplasm. He said many traditional varieties are closely linked with the cultural and customary practices of local communities and are preferred by farmers and consumers for their taste, nutritional qualities, adaptability and local acceptance.

Wangsu urged the Centre to consider suitable provisions under centrally sponsored schemes to identify and promote locally important traditional varieties wherever they remain suitable and in demand. "Such measures," he said, "would strengthen agricultural biodiversity, farmers' choices and local food systems while preserving valuable agricultural heritage."

On climate resilience, the minister sought early notification of the Climate-Resilient Integrated Agriculture System (CRIAS) guidelines, taking into account the specific conditions of hill agriculture. He also sought early release of pending funds under the programme.

Highlighting Arunachal's largely chemical-free agricultural practices, Wangsu said farmers in many parts of the state face difficulties in obtaining certification because of the cost and complexity of the process. He sought greater support to enable farmers to benefit from the state's natural and organic production potential.

On farm mechanisation, he pointed out that farm power availability in Arunachal stands at only 0.57 kW per hectare, against the national average of 3.9 kW per hectare. He said mechanisation models designed for large, contiguous farms in the plains cannot always be directly applied to Arunachal, and sought greater flexibility in scheme guidelines.

The minister also requested for the release of the next instalment under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), amounting to Rs 22.179 crore, as approved by the Project Approval Committee.

Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Wangsu reiterated the need to revise scheme cost norms for Arunachal in view of its difficult terrain, high transportation expenses and higher implementation costs. He also requested release of the second mother sanction of Rs 22.22 crore in a single instalment.

On digital agriculture, Wangsu welcomed the Centre's initiatives under Digital Agriculture Mission, AgriStack, Farmer Registry and Digital Crop Survey, while pointing out the challenges of implementing them in Arunachal's difficult terrain. He requested extension of the deadline for farm ID and farmer ID creation from March 2027 to December 2027 to ensure accurate field verification and quality-assured saturation. He also sought an increase in CPMU resource support from one to three personnel.

Referring to the recently strengthened air connectivity through the Donyi Polo Airport, Wangsu said the state has moved closer to major markets and noted the commencement of dedicated air cargo services for fresh agricultural produce under the theme 'Empowering Farmers, Connecting Markets'.

He said the next major challenge is last-mile connectivity to farms. Wangsu urged the Centre to "make provision for farm approach roads under RKVY detailed project reports," stating that "better connectivity would help bring more areas under cultivation while reducing transportation time and costs for farm inputs and produce."

Wangsu said Arunachal remains committed to the national vision of a productive, diversified, sustainable, climate-resilient and technology-enabled agriculture sector.

Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, agriculture ministers from various states, senior officials, among others, were present at the conference.