The Northeast should be developed as an exclusive economic zone for organic products as the advantage of organic farming needs to be exploited suitably through technical and institutional interventions.
This was disclosed by the Manipur Governor Dr Najma A Heptulla while addressing the fourth Convocation of Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal at its Iroishemba campus near Imphal on Thursday.
In her convocation address, Governor Dr Heptulla said agriculture is the biggest private sector economic activity in the country.
Informing that farmers should be looked at as agri-preneurs who interact with corporate entrepreneurs, needing business models to be worked out to provide win-win options, she said the region has tremendous potential in organic agriculture, food processing, horticulture, commercial cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants, floriculture and minor forest products.
She continued that agriculture has a significant role in the emergence and development of human civilization. It remains the lifeline and livelihood for more than 70 per cent of the country’s population.
It is true that agriculture receives top priority in our policy formulation ever since independence and our Agricultural Universities are the focal points of agricultural growth and change, the Governor maintained.
Chancellor Dr S Ayyappan of the CAU, Imphal and the Vice Chancellor Prof M Premjit of the Agricultural University attending the convocation session also spoke on certain areas.
The dignitaries attending the function conferred degrees, admission of degrees gold medals and memorial medals to the candidates, in absentia, during the day’s function.
The programme was also attended by former Vice Chancellors, Deans from different Agricultural Universities of the north-eastern states, faculty members, parents of the students.
CAU, Imphal which spearheaded agricultural education in the north-eastern India for the last 25 years, had made significant contributions in research and technology development in the region.