Chowna Mein, the deputy chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, has reiterated the government’s resolve to assist the farming community and motivate farmers to grow their businesses in the state. Speaking on the first day of the three-day Arunachal Pineapple Festival in Bagra, West Siang district, on Wednesday, Mein gave farmers assurances that the government would always support their expansion and voiced optimism about the state’s agricultural future.
He emphasized how crucial it is to use occasions like the Pineapple Festival to market tourism in addition to regional cuisine, culture, and agricultural products. Mein noted that a variety of crops, including pineapples and oranges, may be grown in Arunachal Pradesh due to its large landmass and ideal agroclimatic conditions. In particular, he acknowledged Bagra as the state’s pineapple production center, with the West Siang district alone producing over 9,000 metric tons each year.
In order to empower farming communities in Arunachal Pradesh, he noted initiatives like the Atma-Nirbhar Bagwani Yojana (ANBY) and the Atma-Nirbhar Krishi Yojana (ANKY). These initiatives have received significant money to promote agricultural development, Mein continued. Mein recognized the difficulties in marketing their produce as one of the main obstacles that farmers must overcome.
The significance of promoting local agricultural products internationally was again emphasized by the deputy chief minister. He argued that the Bagra pineapple should be registered as a Geographical Indication (GI), pointing out that Arunachal Pradesh already has GI-tagged items, such Arunachal Orange. In order to further assist agricultural growth, Mein emphasized the necessity of bolstering the state’s research and development programs through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and the State Horticulture Research and Development Institute (SHRDI).
