In a significant stride towards bridging the gap between research and rural farming communities, ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, organized a one-day Kisan Sammelan cum Farmer–Scientist Interaction Programme on 17th April, 2025 at KVK Campus. The event aimed to disseminate scientific knowledge, enhance farmers' awareness on sustainable farming practices, and to promote the adoption of innovative technologies.
        The programme was graced by eminent dignitaries, Prof. Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), ICAR, New Delhi, who served as the Chief Guest, and Dr. V. B. Patel, Assistant Director General (Horticultural Sciences), ICAR, as the Guest of Honour. The presence of distinguished academicians - Dr. C. P. Suresh, Professor, Department of Horticulture, and Dr. Gopal Shukla, Professor and Head, Department of Forestry, North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Tura Campus, further enriched the scientific value of the event.
        The Sammelan witnessed participation from 48 farmers representing various villages of West Garo Hills, with a notable presence of women farmers. The programme commenced with a warm welcome address by Dr. Monica Suresh Singh, Senior Scientist and Head, ICAR-KVK, who highlighted the pivotal role of KVKs in capacity building, technology transfer, and enhancing rural livelihoods. She also presented in brief about KVK’s activities of last five years.
        Dr. V. B. Patel emphasized the immense potential of horticultural crops in the agro-climatic zones of Meghalaya. He highlighted the threat posed by Fusarium wilt in bananas and suggested ICAR-Fusicont as a promising biocontrol solution. Dr. Patel also stressed on the need for value addition, particularly in cashew and other perishable commodities, to curb post-harvest losses and enhance farmer incomes. He encouraged farmers to adopt high-yielding and dwarf varieties of cashew, which could significantly boost productivity and profitability. He concluded by underlining the importance of a strong and continuous linkage between KVKs and farming communities.
        Prof. Sanjay Kumar Singh applauded ICAR-KVK West Garo Hills’ dedication to empowering farmers through knowledge sharing, innovation, and a strong farmer–scientist partnership for a more prosperous agricultural future. He urged the farmers to attend more training programmes and adopt scientific production technologies for improving crop yield, quality, and farm income. He elaborated on the significance of learning the entire value chain, from production to branding, and encouraged the formation of organic farming clusters in alignment with national priorities.
        Prof. Singh also stressed the importance of using high-quality seeds, advocating connections with premier ICAR institutes like IIHR and IIVR for sourcing the best planting materials. He motivated farmers to incorporate biofertilizers, rapid composting technologies, and locally-prepared biopesticides into their practices. Planting of neem trees as a natural pest control measure was another practical suggestion offered to reduce chemical pesticide dependency.
        The interactive session that followed provided a platform for farmers to directly raise their concerns and receive tailored advice from scientists. The open dialogue fostered mutual understanding and commitment to problem-solving through science-based approaches.
        The event culminated with the distribution of quality seeds of Rice (Bhalum-3, Bhalum-2 and Megha SA-2), Maize (Megha Maize-1), and Finger millets (VL Mandua-352) to participating farmers, symbolizing the KVK’s commitment to supporting resilient and sustainable agriculture. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Priyanka Saha, SMS (Agronomy), acknowledging the contributions of dignitaries, farmers, and the organizing team. The programme was compered by Dr. Tarun Kumar Das, SMS(Agricultural Extension)