The Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board (APAMB) has signed an agreement with NABARD Consultancy Services Private Limited (NABCONS) to strengthen the implementation of agriculture development programmes and support farmers in the state. Under the agreement, NABCONS will serve as the project monitoring unit (PMU) for the board to oversee and implement various central sector schemes (CSS), state schemes, and other agriculture-related projects across Arunachal Pradesh. The pact was executed between NABARD Itanagar General Manager SV Ranga Rao and APAMB CEO Okit Palling, in the presence of Agriculture and Horticulture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu, Agriculture Secretary Samuel Changkija, and other senior departmental heads.
Agriculture and Horticulture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu stressed the need for a collaborative approach to accelerate growth in the state’s agriculture and horticulture sectors. He noted that while Arunachal possesses immense opportunities in these sectors, sustainable progress requires a clear understanding of the state’s unique geography and local realities. Wangsu expressed concern that despite producing high-quality agricultural commodities, many farmers are still unable to access the right markets and often fail to receive remunerative prices for their produce.
The state is actively working to strengthen digital agriculture systems to improve planning, market access, and service delivery. Despite these challenges, Wangsu highlighted the state’s structural strengths, including rapidly improving road connectivity, a large farming community, and diverse agro-climatic conditions ranging from tropical to temperate zones, which create ideal opportunities for crop diversification. Wangsu expressed confidence that NABCONS’ technical expertise and professional support would streamline project implementation and expressed hope that the collaboration would expand through more joint initiatives in the future.
Agriculture Secretary Samuel Changkija also emphasized the importance of close institutional coordination to effectively address field challenges and ensure successful execution of all ongoing projects.
