Shillong: Assam officials signed a deal with the International Food Policy Research Institute on Wednesday. The agreement aims to overhaul the state's agricultural output. The signing happened at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati. Agriculture minister Pijush Hazarika and chief secretary Ravi Kota stood by as the deal became official.
The partnership targets rural livelihoods and climate-resilient farming. Experts will study how to manage flood adaptation and diversify rice-based systems. They will also push for growth in tea, horticulture, livestock, and fisheries. Officials expect this to boost farmer income and nutrition levels.
Nearly 75 percent of the state relies on farming. Minister Hazarika noted the challenges regarding land scarcity. He said, "Efforts must be made to increase production from limited land in a state like Assam, where the availability of agricultural land is limited."
The IFPRI will help by providing evidence-based knowledge and institutional training. The minister urged farmers to adopt new technology. Better returns depend on this shift toward research-backed practices.
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