Arunachal agriculture board signs pact with NABCONS to strengthen farm schemes

Itanagar, Jul 16 (PTI): The Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board on Thursday signed a pact with NABARD Consultancy Services Private Limited (NABCONS) to strengthen the implementation of agriculture development programmes and support farmers in the state. Under the agreement, NABCONS will serve as the Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) for the board to oversee and implement various Central Sector Schemes (CSS), state schemes, and other agriculture-related projects across Arunachal Pradesh. The agreement was executed between NABARD Itanagar general manager SV Ranga Rao and APAMB CEO Okit Palling, in the presence of the Agriculture and Horticulture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu, agriculture secretary Samuel Changkija, and other senior departmental heads. Addressing the gathering, Wangsu stressed the need for a collaborative approach to accelerate growth, noting that while Arunachal Pradesh possesses immense opportunities in the agriculture and horticulture sectors, sustainable progress requires a clear understanding of the state's unique geography and local realities. He expressed concern that despite producing high-quality agricultural commodities, many farmers are still unable to access the right markets and often fail to receive remunerative prices for their produce. He added that the state is actively working to strengthen digital agriculture systems to improve planning, market access, and service delivery. Despite these challenges, Wangsu highlighted the state's structural strengths, including rapidly improving road connectivity, a large farming community, and diverse agro-climatic conditions ranging from tropical to temperate zones, which create ideal opportunities for crop diversification. Describing NABCONS as a trusted and experienced institution, the minister expressed confidence that its technical expertise and professional support would streamline project implementation and hoped the collaboration would expand through more joint initiatives in the future. In his speech, Changkija said NABCONS' technical expertise would add significant value to the state's development initiatives. He called for close institutional coordination to effectively address field challenges and ensure the successful execution of all ongoing projects. PTI CORR MNB