Latest News

NEW DELHI : Arunachal Pradesh raised key concerns relating to seed systems, indigenous germplasm and organic farming during the National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign 2026 held in New Delhi. The two-day conference was chaired by Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and attended by Union Minister of State Ram Nath Thakur, Agriculture Ministers from various states, senior officials of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Government of India. Representing the state, Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture and Horticulture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu highlighted several issues concerning the agriculture and horticulture sectors in the Northeast, with special focus on strengthening seed systems and promoting sustainable farming practices. Addressing the conference, Wangsu stated that quality seed remains the most critical agricultural input for enhancing productivity and ensuring food security. He urged the Centre to ensure timely allocation and release of funds under seed-related components and called for development of more certified seed varieties suited to the agro-climatic conditions of the Northeastern region. The minister stressed that locally adapted and indigenous germplasm often perform better under local conditions than externally introduced varieties. He proposed greater flexibility in the use and promotion of indigenous germplasm suited to the region. Wangsu also advocated promotion and multiplication of indigenous seed varieties through Government Seed Farms, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Farmers’ Training Centres (FTCs) and ICAR institutions. He further proposed empanelment of local and regional seed companies for production of seeds tailored to local agro-climatic conditions. Highlighting challenges faced by farmers in remote areas, the minister sought enhanced support under the Seed Village Programme and the Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP) for strengthening seed infrastructure, farmer training and seed distribution systems. He also requested enhanced financial assistance considering the high cost of certified seeds and the limited purchasing capacity of farmers in remote Northeastern states. On sustainable agriculture, Wangsu said Arunachal Pradesh, being “largely organic by default,” intends to promote organic and bio-based crop protection measures in line with the Mission Organic vision of the Government of India. He called for greater emphasis on the promotion of bio-pesticides, bio-fungicides, sticky traps and light traps for environmentally safe and sustainable crop protection. The minister noted that bio-based crop protection measures offer long-term sustainability benefits while reducing health hazards associated with chemical pesticide residues. Wangsu further proposed the introduction of a dedicated Organic Bio-based Crop Protection Scheme under Government of India programmes. Expressing optimism, he said the state government remains hopeful that the concerns and proposals placed before the conference would receive due consideration in the interest of farmers, sustainable agriculture and inclusive national development. In his concluding remarks, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed satisfaction over the active participation and constructive deliberations during the conference. He urged all stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the discussions at the grassroots level. Emphasising environmentally responsible farming practices, Chouhan stressed the need to safeguard agricultural land and ecological balance through the “Khet-Bachao Mission.” He also appealed to the Centre, states, ICAR institutions, agricultural universities and KVKs to work collectively towards balanced fertiliser use and sustainable farming practices. Senior officials from Arunachal Pradesh, including Secretaries of the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, also attended the conference.      

ITANAGAR : Elephants in Arunachal Pradesh have been recorded at elevations above 3,000 metres above sea level, marking the highest known elephant presence documented anywhere in the world, according to a new assessment conducted by WWF-India and the state Forest department. The findings were presented in a report titled ‘Managing Human–Elephant Conflict in Arunachal Pradesh: A Strategy and Action Plan’, released by Advisor to the minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Wanglin Lowangdong. Describing the publication as timely and significant, Lowangdong said human-wildlife conflict, particularly involving elephants, remains a serious concern in the state. The statewide assessment, carried out between December 2024 and March 2026, documented elephant distribution, human-elephant conflict (HEC) hotspots, habitat pressures and landscape connectivity across Arunachal Pradesh. It is the first comprehensive effort to assess the scale, intensity and trends of human-elephant interactions in the state. The study also provides the first baseline data on crop losses, property damage and human casualties caused by elephants. Information on conflict incidents was compiled from elephant-bearing forest divisions using forest department records and consultations with local communities. According to the report, habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation are among the major drivers of conflict between humans and elephants. It proposes measures to reduce human casualties, compensate for crop losses and promote community-led approaches to create safer shared spaces for both people and elephants. WWF-India’s national lead for Elephant Conservation, Dr Aritra Kshettry, stressed the importance of maintaining habitat connectivity to reduce conflict. He said fragmented landscapes often push elephants into human-dominated areas, increasing the chances of encounters. Kshettry expressed hope that the action plan would serve as a valuable tool for strengthening coexistence between people and elephants in Arunachal Pradesh. State Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force P Subhramanyam said human-elephant conflict has become a growing concern in the state, and that promoting coexistence is essential. He said the action plan would help guide interventions aimed at reducing conflict and improving human-elephant coexistence. Besides recommending immediate management measures, the report highlights the need for a stronger scientific understanding of human-elephant conflict in the state. It was observed that with evidence-based planning and locally driven action, Arunachal Pradesh has the potential to emerge as a model for managing human-elephant coexistence in rapidly changing landscapes. (Source: PTI)      

DOIMUKH : Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) organised a national seminar on “Opportunities for Livelihood and Income Enhancement among Rural Masses through Micro and Small Industry Start-Ups Utilizing Natural Resources of Arunachal Pradesh” at the Smart Theatre of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering on Friday. The seminar was organised by the Department of Science and Technology-Technology Enabling Centre (DST-TEC), RGU, in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Department of Food Technology. The programme aimed to explore sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural communities through entrepreneurship, innovation and effective utilisation of locally available natural resources. Addressing the gathering, RGU senior-most professor Prof Jaydeba Sahoo stressed the importance of industry-academia linkages and said Arunachal Pradesh is a land of opportunities. He emphasised the need for research, skill enhancement and innovation among students to promote start-ups and entrepreneurship. Arunachal Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Board (APKVIB) Chairman Maling Gombu, the keynote speaker of the seminar, highlighted the importance of promoting village industries and self-employment opportunities for rural youth. He also spoke about Monpa handmade paper and other indigenous products of Arunachal Pradesh and highlighted various government schemes supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Technical Expert and former Director of the Central Pulp and Paper Research Institute Dr Rakesh Kumar Jain spoke on technology-driven industrial development and entrepreneurship models suitable for the Northeast region. He stated that biomass and bio-waste resources available in Arunachal Pradesh could be effectively converted into wealth and livelihood opportunities.   RGU Registrar Dr N T Rikam highlighted the importance of Geographical Indication (GI) tagging of indigenous products and stressed scaling up handmade products and artefacts to global markets. The seminar was chaired by IQAC Director Prof Utpal Bhattacharjee. The welcome address was delivered by Department of Computer Science and Engineering Head Ani Taggu, while DST-TEC Coordinator and seminar convener Dr Rahul Chandra Kushwaha explained the objectives and significance of the programme. The seminar witnessed enthusiastic participation from faculty members, research scholars, students, government officials and industry representatives. Discussions focused on bamboo and herbal industries, agro-based entrepreneurship, sustainable utilisation of natural resources, skill development and strengthening the start-up ecosystem. The organisers stated that the seminar would contribute towards promoting entrepreneurship, rural employment and technology-driven development in Arunachal Pradesh and the Northeast region. The programme concluded with technical sessions by experts, interactive discussions with participants and distribution of certificates.      

PASIGHAT : A national dialogue on the past, present and future of Hindi journalism began on Friday with academics and media professionals from across the country participating in a two-day National e-Conference on “200 Years of Hindi Journalism: Indian Knowledge Systems, Vernacular Media, and Cultural Renaissance.” The conference has been jointly organised by the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of University of Ladakh, Kargil Campus, and the Department of Mass Communication of Arunachal Pradesh University (APU), Pasighat. Scholars and media practitioners from leading universities are deliberating on the evolution of vernacular journalism amid challenges posed by digital disruption, misinformation and declining media credibility. Delivering the inaugural address, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, Head of Department of MA Strategic Communication, Prof. Pramod Kumar said Hindi journalism emerged from a civilisational need to provide a colonised society with a language of resistance and self-expression. “The challenge today is not the absence of information but the erosion of credibility. Artificial intelligence and algorithmic platforms are reshaping how news is produced and consumed, but technology alone cannot substitute for the journalist’s fundamental obligation to truth,” he said, urging the vernacular press to adopt technological tools without compromising ethical values. In his keynote address, former Centre for Mass Communication University of Rajasthan Jaipur Head Prof. Sanjeev Bhanawat traced the two-century journey of Hindi journalism from Udant Martand, the first Hindi newspaper published in 1826, to the contemporary era of social media and algorithm-driven news dissemination. He said the vernacular press had historically served as a movement representing communities excluded from mainstream public discourse. Stressing the need to integrate Indian Knowledge Systems into journalism education, he cautioned that a culturally disconnected Hindi press would struggle to counter commercialisation and misinformation. Chairing the session, University of Ladakh Vice Chancellor Prof. Saket Kushwaha described Hindi journalism as a mirror reflecting India’s social conflicts, aspirations and resilience over two centuries. “We stand at a moment when artificial intelligence is not merely a tool but a disruption — rewriting the economics of newsrooms, generating content at scale, and raising questions about authorship, accountability and authenticity,” he said. Prof. Kushwaha emphasised that Indian Knowledge Systems should be viewed as living intellectual traditions capable of providing journalism with a value framework rooted in Indian realities. Earlier, welcoming the participants, Arunachal Pradesh University Head of Department of Mass Communication Dr. Prem Taba said the history of Hindi journalism was closely linked with the struggle of communities to find their voice against structures of power. He noted that issues such as credibility, cultural identity, digital transformation and the future of regional media remain central to contemporary journalism. University of Ladakh Kargil Campus In-Charge Administration Dr. Mehboob Ali highlighted the significance of hosting the conference in Ladakh, a region marked by rich linguistic and cultural diversity. Faculty of Arts Dean Dr. Jaffar Ali Khan urged researchers to move beyond mainstream narratives and recognise the contribution of vernacular journalism in peripheral regions often ignored in media histories. Arunachal Pradesh University Vice Chancellor (I/C) Dr. Milorai Modi, who could not attend due to health reasons, conveyed his best wishes to the organisers and participants through a message. The inaugural session was followed by plenary discussions on digital transformation in Hindi journalism, regional cultural identity and ethical challenges confronting vernacular media. Among the senior scholars participating in the conference are Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Delhi School of Mass Communication Dean Prof. Durgesh Tripathi, Central University of Rajasthan Prof. Amitabh Srivastava, Rajiv Gandhi University Head of Department of Mass Communication Dr. Nawaz Khan Thouba, and Srijan Sansar Group of International Journals Global Group Editor Dr. Shailesh Shukla. The second day of the conference on Saturday will feature presentation of 18 research papers across two technical sessions on themes including artificial intelligence and vernacular fact-checking, endangered languages in mainstream television, environmental journalism, women’s portrayal in regional newspapers, and legal challenges arising from AI-driven journalism. The conference is being convened by University of Ladakh faculty member Dr. Shriprakash Pal and Arunachal Pradesh University faculty member Dr. Prem Taba, with Dr. Zakir Hussain and Dr. Kombang Darang serving as co-convenors.    

ROING :  Lower Dibang Valley Deputy Commissioner Fwwrman Brahma has directed all excavating agencies and contractors to mandatorily use the CBuD application before undertaking any digging or excavation work in the district. The directive was issued during a District Level Telecommunication Monitoring Committee (DLTMC) meeting organised by the Information Technology and Communication (IT&C) Department at the Conference Hall of the Mini Secretariat here on Friday. The meeting was attended by representatives from various departments, including Public Works Department (PWD), Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Power Department, Urban Development Department, Rural Works Department (RWD), Forest Department, National Informatics Centre (NIC), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and other Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). Addressing the meeting, DC Brahma stressed the need to improve telecom connectivity, particularly in areas with educational institutions. He also emphasised effective coordination among departments and telecom service providers to strengthen communication infrastructure across the district. District Information Technology Officer Minam Apum delivered a presentation on the key features and benefits of the CBuD application. The platform enables departments, agencies and contractors to verify underground telecom and utility assets before carrying out excavation works, helping prevent damage to critical infrastructure and ensuring better coordination among stakeholders. The meeting also discussed telecom connectivity issues and measures for improving network coverage in different parts of the district. (DIPR)