ITANAGAR, 7 June 2025: In a major step toward promoting sustainable and scientific agriculture in the Northeast, the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has launched an organic farming project in Arunachal Pradesh.
Titled "Promoting Scientific Organic Agriculture in the North East Region," the initiative is supported by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) under the PM-DevINE scheme.
The project covers 15 clusters across East Kameng and West Kameng districts and aims to create a robust, self-sustaining organic farming ecosystem through farmer training, capacity building, organic certification, and digital monitoring.
Key features of the initiative include:
Training of 1,500 farmers in Arunachal Pradesh under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)
Establishment of demonstration farm labs and community seed banks
Deployment of drones and digital infrastructure to gather data on soil health, crop yields, and farming practices
Strengthening of market linkages through e-commerce platforms and dedicated outlets for organic produce
To support field operations and ensure smooth communication, NECTAR has distributed smartphones to Master Trainers overseeing each cluster. These trainers will guide 100 farmers each, supported by educational materials on composting, pest control, and organic practices.
As part of the seed support program, buckwheat seeds were distributed to several clusters including Shergaon, Jigaon, Membachur, Rupa, and Thongre. Senior NECTAR officials attended the distribution ceremony, underlining their commitment to leveraging technology and grassroots empowerment to transform agriculture in the region.
This project is part of a larger regional effort to develop 250 certified organic clusters across the Northeast, targeting 25,000 trained farmers and integrating sustainable agriculture with modern tools and market access.
