GANGTOK : ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Zone VI, Guwahati, organized a two-day Annual Zonal Workshop 2025, in collaboration with the Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal, on the 25th and 26th of September 2025, at Sikkim.

In addition, the inauguration of the Administrative Building, Boys’ Hostel and Girls’ Hostel of College of Horticulture, Birmiok, took place during the occasion. The workshop primarily focused on major issues and relevant technologies in agriculture and allied sectors of the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim; besides reviewing and recommending suitable technologies for relevant zones based on On-Farm Trials (OFT) and Front-Line Demonstrations (FLDs).

Chief Guest, Om Prakash Mathur, Governor of Sikkim, inaugurated the workshop and appealed to all the scientists to further work on the value addition of crops, especially large cardamom. He urged the government to establish more KVKs in the state and highlighted the importance of drones in the agricultural scenario of the Eastern States. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Govt of India, graced the occasion via virtual mode and addressed the importance of agriculture in Sikkim while giving importance to natural and organic farming.

He also highlighted PM Modi’s vision of agriculture in the North-Eastern states of India. Also present via virtual mode were Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (DG), ICAR and Dr. Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General (DDG), ICAR. Puran Kumar Gurung, Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture, and Fisheries Development Department, Govt of Sikkim, emphasised the importance of establishing 2 new KVKs in Sikkim.

Chairman, Bhagirath Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, addressed the significance of the agriculture sector being an important source of income and livelihood generation. Also, he spoke on the strengthening of FPOs and FPCs for the development of agriculture in Sikkim.

Earlier, during the inaugural session, Dr. Anupam Mishra, Vice Chancellor, CAU, Imphal, delivered the welcome address and gave a brief on the agriculture scenario of Sikkim. Dr. G. Kadirvel, Director of ICAR, ATARI, Zone VI, spoke on new initiatives and the growth of KVKs in the region.

The workshop served as a platform for technology exchange, innovation, and effective dissemination of agricultural technologies aimed at enhancing farmers’ incomes through sustainable farming practices. Significant highlights of the workshop included an Exhibition which showcased technologies, innovations, and flagship products from different institutes and the release of several publications by different KVKs under ICAR ATARI, Zone VI.

During the course of the workshop, eminent scientists reviewed, provided insights, and gave recommendations on issues and technologies relevant for the respective states in the sectors of Agriculture, Horticulture, Field Crops and Natural Resource Management, Livestock and Fisheries, and Farm Machinery and Secondary Agriculture. Distinguished dignitaries in attendance included B.S. Panth, MLA, Temi Naphing constituency, Dr. Manoranjan Neog, DEE, AAU, Dr. H.C Bhattacharya, Former DEE, AAU, Directors from different ICAR Institutes, KVK heads, scientists, senior scientists and officials from ICAR ATARI, Zone VI