
14/08/2025
Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Principal Scientist, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Zone-VI, Guwahati, undertook a two-day maiden visit to the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Upper Siang from August 12-13, 2025. The visit marked a significant milestone in strengthening the outreach and extension services in this remote tribal district of Arunachal Pradesh.
As part of the visit, Dr. Rajesh Kumar inaugurated a newly established Poultry Demonstration Unit at the KVK campus, aimed at promoting backyard poultry as a sustainable livelihood option for rural and tribal households. The unit will serve as a hands-on learning platform for farmers, SHGs and rural youth with a focus on dual-purpose improved poultry breeds suited for local agro-climatic conditions.
One of the highlights of the visit was the distribution of high-quality vegetable seed kit (PUSA BEEJ) under the KVK, Upper Siang’s ICAR-IARI NEH Component. The initiative is aimed at enhancing nutritional security and income generation through improved vegetable cultivation in the region.
During his visit, Dr. Kumar interacted extensively with local farmers, women SHG members and frontline extension workers, taking note of their challenges, suggestions and achievements.
Dr. Kumar, in his address emphasized the identification and adoption of a village to be developed into a model village with a comprehensive approach involving integrated farming and active community participation. He also stressed on leveraging the Swachhta fund for the creation of permanent structure to support cleanliness, hygiene and resource efficient facilities within the village. Importantly, Dr. Kumar also encouraged the formation of a Cooperative Society by the local farmers to enhance collective bargaining power, ensure better access to inputs and markets and facilitate efficient resource sharing.
Dr. Kumar lauded the KVK, Upper Siang team for their commendable efforts in empowering local farmers through innovative practices, delivering location specific technologies, conducting scientific training, skill development programme and promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices despite geographical constraints.
Dr. Oyinti Megu, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK, Upper Siang expressed heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Rajesh Kumar for taking the time to visit one of the remote KVK in the region. She acknowledges the significance of the visit, noting that it marked the first-ever visit by an ATARI representative to KVK, Upper Siang. She requested to take forward not only the good work being done by KVK but also communicate the challenges and constraints faced by KVK, Upper Siang in this difficult terrain to ICAR-ATARI and higher authorities. The visit concludes with a field tour to on-farm trial site, demonstration plots maintained by KVK and visit to farmer’s field at Jommoh, Geku and Integrated paddy cm fish farming system by Shri. Totok Libang, progressive farmer and a State Gold medalist at Simong village