ITANAGAR, 28 Jun: Agriculture & Horticulture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu said that the officials of the Horticulture Department must learn from past experiences and adapt to the changing times by embracing new technologies and innovative approaches.
The minister made this remark during a review meeting of the Horticulture Department here on Friday.
He urged all officers to continuously upgrade their knowledge and align themselves with emerging advancements in the sector.
Wangsu said that “the true measure of the department’s success lies in the positive impact created in farmers’ fields.” He stated that tangible improvements in farmers’ livelihoods and productivity “would strengthen the case for prioritising the horticulture sector.”
The minister also urged the officials of the Horticulture Department to exercise care in deciding which crops are promoted and recommended to farmers, cautioning that crop selection must be guided by ground realities.
The minister’s central message was that the department must broaden its outlook from research to the marketplace.
“It should be lab to land to market – not merely lab to land,” he said, adding that the value chain must extend all the way to the market, so that farmers realise actual returns, and that scientific advances translate into income, rather than ending at the cultivation stage. He directed the officials to keep marketing and farmer profitability at the heart of every intervention.
The minister’s adviser, Talem Taboh, commended the work of the district horticulture officers, and flagged the need for dedicated vehicles for field officers. He suggested close consultations with local representatives in the selection of beneficiaries, and called for timely promotion of officers as a measure of encouragement.
Horticulture Secretary Koj Rinya outlined the way forward for the sector, emphasising strengthening of research and development. She also proposed constituting a committee to oversee on-ground implementation of the schemes.
Horticulture Director Tobom Bam, the SHRDI head, all officials of the department and KVKs of Kurung Kumey and Dibang Valley districts were present at the review meeting.
