Guwahati, Sep 8: Arunachal Pradesh is stepping up efforts to make agriculture and allied activities stronger drivers of rural income, employment and entrepreneurship. The state government is focusing on better training, technology, value addition and market access to help farmers turn local production into sustainable business opportunities.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu said agriculture and allied sectors have received special attention since 2019, with Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry being brought under a more coordinated approach. The aim is to improve productivity while creating better economic opportunities for farmers and rural communities.
Arunachal has a strong local market for agricultural and allied products, supported in part by the presence of the Indian Army, ITBP and other Central Armed Police Forces. The government is encouraging farmers and cooperatives to tap this demand and build more organised supply chains for locally produced goods.
Khandu has stressed that agricultural products should move beyond the farm and enter organised value chains. Greater emphasis on processing, packaging, storage and marketing can help farmers earn more from their produce while creating new businesses and jobs in rural areas.
The newly established State Agriculture Information Hub-cum-Farmers’ Hostel at Naharlagun is expected to strengthen this effort. The facility will provide farmers with training, technical knowledge and exposure to modern farming practices, helping them improve skills and adopt more market-oriented methods.
The focus is also expanding to fisheries and other allied activities. Better transportation and market connections can help producers reach consumers more efficiently, reduce wastage and improve the overall value of rural production.
As agriculture becomes more closely connected with processing, logistics, storage and marketing, it can generate economic activity well beyond the farm. This could create opportunities for small enterprises, cooperatives and young entrepreneurs while giving rural communities additional sources of income.
For Arunachal Pradesh, the broader goal is to move agriculture from a traditional livelihood activity towards a more organised rural business sector. With better skills, infrastructure and market access, the state is seeking to build a stronger agricultural economy and make farming and allied activities more attractive and sustainable for the next generation.
