Pasighat : The College of Agriculture under the Central Agricultural University (CAU), Pasighat, held a public programme on Wednesday. The event marked the inauguration of a Tribal Girls’ Hostel and an Agro-Eco Tourism Park.

It also saw the operational launch of the “Aditya-Prabha Gram Project: Fostering Agricultural Harmony in Border Communities of the Eastern Himalayas”. The project is supported by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India, through the North Eastern Council (NEC).

Satinder Kumar Bhalla, Secretary, NEC, Shillong, attended the programme as the Chief Guest. While addressing the gathering, he spoke about the vision of Viksit Bharat. He stressed the need to raise farm production, improve value addition, and create better livelihood options in border areas.

He pointed out Arunachal Pradesh’s strong potential in kiwi cultivation. He also encouraged youth to take up entrepreneurship and startup ventures, saying youth-led enterprises are key to building a self-reliant and developed India.

Earlier, L. M. Garnayak, Director of Research, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, explained the background and goals of the project. He said the Aditya-Prabha Gram Project aims to strengthen agriculture through inclusive transformation of youth in agri and allied sectors.

He added that the project also focuses on building rural awareness to support better human aspirations. According to him, the main goal is to promote agricultural harmony in border communities of the Eastern Himalayas.

Tapir Gao, Member of Parliament from Arunachal Pradesh, said the Aditya-Prabha Gram Project is a pilot initiative. He explained that it is designed to test new and innovative models for agricultural and rural development in border regions.

He also referred to the Vibrant Village Programme and said both initiatives work together to strengthen border villages. Gao urged the implementing agencies to bring more creativity and innovation so that the benefits reach people at the grassroots level.

He further informed that a total outlay of ₹5 crore has been allocated for the Aditya-Prabha Gram Project. He expressed hope that if the pilot project is successful, similar initiatives will be expanded to other border regions in the future.

As per project details, the initiative covers two Northeastern states, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. It spans seven border districts that share international boundaries with China, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Tibet. Over a period of three years, the project is expected to benefit 70 target villages and around 2,100 farm families.

Dr. Anupam Mishra, Vice-Chancellor of CAU, Imphal, said, “We proposed this project because we truly believe in it. Our vision is clear. We want to grow into a leader in Southeast Asia. We have thought about how this can happen and what steps are needed to become one of the leading institutions in the world. There are many cultural, social, and ecological factors involved.

That is why this project was proposed. He also stressed the need to focus on border areas. For projects to succeed, a strong and foolproof multi-level system is needed. Our institution has qualified staff, researchers, and experts to carry this forward. That is why we proposed this project.”

In Arunachal Pradesh, the project will be implemented in Tawang, Upper Subansiri, Shi-Yomi, Upper Siang, Dibang Valley, and Changlang districts. In Sikkim, the project covers Soreng district. The programme was attended by local MLAs Tapi Darang from Pasighat East and Ninong Ering from Pasighat West.

The programme highlighted CAU’s commitment to tribal welfare, promotion of eco-tourism, agricultural development, and sustainable growth in border areas of the Northeastern Region. Dean of the College, Prof. Sanjay Swami, delivered the vote of thanks. He thanked all stakeholders and underlined the need for coordinated efforts to ensure long-term development of the region.

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