Agriculture & Horticulture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu emphasized the need for officials of the Horticulture Department to upgrade their knowledge and adapt to emerging advancements in the sector. He made this remark during a review meeting of the Horticulture Department in Itanagar on Friday. Wangsu stressed that the true measure of the department’s success lies in the positive impact created in farmers’ fields.
He stated that tangible improvements in farmers’ livelihoods and productivity would strengthen the case for prioritising the horticulture sector. The minister also urged officials to exercise care in deciding which crops are promoted and recommended to farmers, cautioning that crop selection must be guided by ground realities. Wangsu’s central message was that the department must broaden its outlook from research to the marketplace.
He directed officials to keep marketing and farmer profitability at the heart of every intervention. The minister’s adviser, Talem Taboh, commended the work of the district horticulture officers and flagged the need for dedicated vehicles for field officers. Horticulture Secretary Koj Rinya outlined the way forward for the sector, emphasising strengthening of research and development.
She proposed constituting a committee to oversee on-ground implementation of the schemes. The review meeting was attended by Horticulture Director Tobom Bam, the SHRDI head, all officials of the department, and KVKs of Kurung Kumey and Dibang Valley districts.
