The two-day National Consultative Workshop on “Transforming Agricultural Extension Education and Advisory Service System in North-East India: Policy Perspectives for Viksit Bharat 2047 (T-AEAS-NEI 2047)” successfully concluded today at the College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences (CPGSAS), Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya. The programme was organized under the guidance of Dr. Anupam Mishra, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Central Agricultural University, Imphal. The workshop was coordinated by Prof. Dwipendra Thakuria, Dean, CPGSAS, Umiam, and Prof. L. Devarani, Professor, School of Social Sciences, CPGSAS, along with faculty members and organizing team of the institution. The workshop brought together policy makers, agricultural scientists, extension experts, academicians, and development practitioners from across the country to deliberate on strengthening agricultural extension education and advisory services in the North Eastern region. During the second day, theme-wise group discussions and presentations were conducted where experts deliberated on various issues related to market-oriented extension, value chain development, governance reforms, institutional convergence, and policy innovations in extension systems. The groups critically examined the current status of agricultural extension services in the region and presented practical policy recommendations for strengthening farmer-centric extension systems aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The valedictory session was graced by Dr. Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, New Delhi, as Chief Guest, who emphasized the need to modernize agricultural extension systems through digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and collaborative institutional frameworks to address emerging challenges in agriculture. He highlighted the importance of digital agriculture platforms in improving farmers’ welfare and strengthening the agricultural extension system. He emphasized that initiatives such as AgriStack and Bharat Vistaar aim to create an integrated digital ecosystem for farmers across the country. He suggested the creation of a national farmers’ platform where farmers can share experiences, innovations, and best practices, and also proposed the establishment of a Farmer Youth Forum, expected to be launched on 12 March, to actively engage rural youth in agriculture and agri-entrepreneurship. He further stressed the urgent need for capacity building in digital agriculture for farmers, extension professionals, and stakeholders. He suggested that IITs and research institutions could develop suitable training modules to enhance digital literacy. He also highlighted the role of KVKs, Agricultural Universities, progressive farmers, innovators, and farm ambassadors in promoting digital extension models that integrate both physical and virtual approaches. He emphasized the vision of “One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team” and suggested that the policy insights from the workshop could contribute to a national perspective plan for agricultural extension.

In his presidential remarks, Dr. Anupam Mishra, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), emphasized the need for a futuristic agricultural extension strategy to support India’s vision of becoming a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047. He noted that earlier agricultural progress was largely achieved through interpersonal communication and traditional extension approaches, whereas today advanced technologies such as remote sensing, satellite imagery, artificial intelligence, digital analytics, and language translation tools provide new opportunities to strengthen extension services. He highlighted the importance of satellite-based crop monitoring, yield estimation, and market planning, while stressing the need to improve digital literacy and human resource capacity among farmers and extension professionals. He also emphasized strengthening extension strategies in allied sectors such as fisheries, animal husbandry, and horticulture, developing sector-specific demonstration models, and learning from the innovative approaches of private sector partners to build an effective and future-ready agricultural extension system.
One of the key sessions of the day featured an invited lecture by Prof. Sanasam Ranbir Singh, Professor and Associate Dean, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Guwahati, who delivered an insightful talk on “Strategizing Agriculture through AI Ecosystems: Architecting Viksit Bharat 2047.” He highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, digital agriculture platforms, and data-driven advisory services in improving agricultural productivity, market access, and climate resilience.
The session was also addressed by several distinguished dignitaries including Dr. M. M. Adhikary, Former Vice-Chancellor, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), West Bengal; Dr. J. P. Sharma, Former Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST Jammu; Dr. V. V. Sadamate, Former Adviser (Agriculture), Planning Commission; Dr. K. D. Kokate, Former Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR; Dr. P. Das, Former Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR; and Prof. D. Basu, Vice-Chancellor, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (UBKV), West Bengal, who shared their insights on strengthening extension education and policy frameworks for the North East.
The consultative workshop concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. L. Devarani, Professor, CPGSAS, Umiam, who acknowledged the contributions of all dignitaries, experts, participants, and organizing team members for making the workshop a success.