PM SHRI School Students Undertake Educational Exposure Visit to ICAR-Arunachal Pradesh Centre, Basar

10 February 2026, Basar

Under the flagship PM SHRI School initiative, seventy-two students accompanied by faculty members from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Kombo, West Siang District, participated in a comprehensive educational exposure visit to the ICAR (RC) NEH Region, Arunachal Pradesh Centre, Basar. The programme was designed to sensitize students to scientific agricultural research, climate-smart farming technologies, sustainable production systems, and emerging career avenues in the agricultural sciences.

The programme commenced with a welcome and introductory address by Dr. Raghuveer Singh, In-charge Head of the Centre, who highlighted the mandates, strategic research domains, and major technological interventions of the Centre. He also elucidated mushroom production technologies, emphasizing their significance in nutritional security, livelihood diversification, and income augmentation under hill farming systems.

An overview of region-specific agronomical crops was presented, along with a detailed explanation of the Integrated Farming System (IFS) model being implemented at the Centre. The presentation highlighted the role of the IFS approach in optimizing resources, minimizing risks, and enhancing overall farm sustainability.

The session on soil science focused on soil-based crop suitability and potential cropping systems of the region. Emphasis was laid on the importance of vermicomposting and organic nutrient recycling as key components for improving soil health and promoting sustainable agricultural productivity.

Insights were also shared on the Crop Cafeteria approach, crop diversification strategies, and conservation of plant genetic resources. The discussion underscored their significance in building climate resilience, conserving genetic resources, and supporting adaptive crop improvement programmes.

The session on livestock and allied sciences covered scientific animal husbandry practices and reproductive management, highlighting the critical role of livestock components within integrated and mixed farming systems. In addition, students were introduced to horticultural and exotic fruit crops, with a focus on their commercial potential, nutritional value, and scope for diversification in hill agriculture.

As part of the exposure programme, the students visited various research and demonstration units, including the Mushroom Museum, Crop Cafeteria, Exotic Fruit Blocks, Dairy and Animal Science Unit, Integrated Farming System Unit, Meteorological Observatory, Agroforestry Block, and Potential Crops Block. The hands-on interactions provided students with practical insights into advanced agricultural research, technology dissemination, and field-level experimentation.

The educational exposure visit proved to be highly enriching, significantly enhancing students’ understanding of modern, research-driven, and sustainable agricultural systems, while inspiring scientific temper and awareness about the critical role of agricultural research and innovation in ensuring food, nutritional, and livelihood security.

(Source: ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Arunachal Pradesh Center, Basar)