Centre to link innovative agriculture technologies to farms in Northeast Region

Government is working towards linking innovative agricultural technologies with farms to benefit small and marginal farmers in northeast India. It will primarily focus on women under Biotech-KISAN programme.

Highlights

• Department of Biotechnology issued special call for Northeast region under the programme which will help in understanding local issues of farmers & provide scientific solutions to them.
• Programme will specifically focus on Northeast region because it is predominantly agrarian where 70% of its workforce were engaged in agriculture & allied sectors for livelihood.

Why this programme was launched for NE region?

• Biotech-KISAN programme will be implemented in NE Region with objective of linking innovative agriculture technologies with farm for small & marginal farmers.
• Northeast region produces 1.5% of India’s food grain and continues to be net importer of food grains for its domestic consumption.
• Region has untapped potential to enhance income of farming population by promoting location specific crops, horticultural & plantation crops, fisheries & livestock production.
• Under the programme, hubs in NER will collaborate with scientific institutions of India and State Agricultural Universities  or Krishi Vigyan Kendras etc.

Biotech-KISAN programme

Mission Programme Biotech – Krishi Innovation Science Application Network is a scientist-farmer partnership scheme launched in 2017. It was launched for agriculture innovation with the objective of connecting science laboratories with farmers to get innovative solutions and technologies which can be applied at farm level. So far, 146 Biotech-KISAN Hubs have been established across 15 agroclimatic zones & 110 aspirational districts of India.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2021