Assam: Ankurita Asom Farmers Award Programme honours Assam's hardworking farmers, inspire youths

The Ankurita Asom organized Farmers Award Programme , Ankurita Asom Krishi Bota 2024 with an initiative to celebrate  the hardworking farmers in Assam on January 21. The program unfolded with an interactive session aimed at sharing knowledge and creating awareness among farmers. The event covered various aspects of agriculture, including indigenous rice cultivation, poultry biosecurity, and scientific maize cultivation.

The program commenced with an informative session on the cultivation of indigenous rice by Dr. Arunima Dev Choudhury, the State Consultant for NFSM and Director of Agriculture in Assam. This session aimed to equip farmers with valuable insights to enhance their rice cultivation practices.

Dr. Pankaj Deka, Assistant Professor cum Virologist at the Department of Microbiology, C.V.Sc., AAU, shed light on poultry biosecurity measures against economically important viral diseases. This information is crucial for safeguarding poultry farming, a vital aspect of Assam's agriculture.

Mehdi Arif Hussain, SDAO Morigaon, shared expertise on the scientific cultivation of maize, providing farmers with practical knowledge to improve their maize yields.

The program also featured a presentation on the Utpan App by Dr. Anjan Goswami, Co-Founder of Utpan - an Agri Fin-tech Platform for Bharat. This presentation highlighted the role of technology in modernizing agricultural practices and facilitating financial transactions for farmers.

The inaugural ceremony of Ankurita Asom Krishi Bota 2024 was graced by the Chief Guest, Sjt. Atul Bora, Hon'ble Minister of Agriculture, Horticulture & Food Processing, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of Assam, and other dignitaries such as Jadav Payeng, Environmental Activist, Manoj Sakia , Chairman ALPCO and Manoj Goswami, Editor in Chief, NKTV also attended the event.

Speaking to India Today NE, Atul Bora expressed,”The Anukriti Asom Krishi Bota 2024 has embarked on a commendable initiative by recognizing and awarding the farmers who contribute significantly to our region. This program serves as a strong source of encouragement, and I believe it will motivate more young people to consider a career in the agriculture sector."

Ankurita Asom, the organization behind this initiative, envisions a prosperous and self-reliant Assam by fostering development in agriculture, commerce, indigenous art & culture. The program aims to ensure consistent harvests throughout the seasons, empowering Assamese people to progress through self-sufficiency.

Tapan Dutta Baruah, the recipient of the first prize and renowned as the "Mountain Man of Assam," expressed, "This initiative will serve as a source of encouragement for people. It sends a powerful message that even farmers can receive awards and respect for their work. Farming goes beyond monetary gains; it's about recognition. Personally, I've created a mountain – a natural feat. While others may have done so outside the Northeast, I invested 14 lakh to create a mountain in this region."

The event's focus on knowledge-sharing and awareness-building underscores the importance of equipping farmers with the tools and information necessary for a thriving agricultural sector. By recognizing and awarding the efforts of farmers, Ankurita Asom Krishi Bota 2024 hopes to inspire more youth to engage in agriculture, contributing to the economic self-reliance of Assam.