New Delhi: Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia participated in a high-level task force meeting on NER agriculture in New Delhi.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang convened the meeting to review agriculture and horticulture strategies across the North Eastern Region. The discussion focused on strengthening value chains and improving market access for farmers.
The meeting saw participation from Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Gabriel D. Wangsu, and Sikkim Agriculture Minister Puran Kumar Gurung. Senior officials from MDoNER and State Governments also attended.
Officials discussed the need to address gaps across the agri-horti value chain. The deliberations covered production, post-harvest handling, processing, marketing and logistics. Participants stressed the need to reduce inefficiencies at each stage.
The task force highlighted the region’s natural strengths in agriculture and horticulture. Members agreed that quality, specialisation and uniqueness should define the identity of NER products. They said these factors could serve as strong market differentiators.
The meeting also focused on reducing post-harvest losses. Members said high logistics and marketing costs continued to erode farmer incomes. They called for targeted investments to improve value realisation.
Roadmap proposed to strengthen NER agriculture value chains
The task force discussed the need for a phased roadmap for NER agriculture development. Members stressed the importance of moving from basic interventions to full value chain integration. They proposed developing a strategic infrastructure map to support exports.
Participants also discussed identifying priority commodities for each State. They supported cluster-based development to ensure scale and efficiency. Officials said this approach would improve market alignment for agri-horti products.
The task force proposed a blueprint-based model for implementation. The approach would begin with selecting one product at a time. Authorities would then address its entire value chain through short-, medium- and long-term plans.
Officials said the framework would define clear targets and investment needs for each product. They also stressed the need to assess the number of farmers involved across the region. The evaluation would measure benefits at both product and State levels.
Once implemented, authorities would track income gains for farmers. The task force said outcome measurement remained critical for future planning.
The HLTF reaffirmed that a focused, product-specific strategy would deliver sustainable results. Members said the approach would strengthen market linkages, reduce inefficiencies and support long-term income growth for farmers across the North Eastern Region.
