Check feasibility of more agri varsities in North-East, Indian Council for Agricultural Research told

SHILLONG: Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today directed the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) to study the feasibility of opening agriculture and veterinary universities in all the eight north eastern states.

"The Agriculture Minister has directed the ICAR to look at the feasibility of opening more agricultural and veterinary colleges and universities in all the eight states of the region," Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home and Arunachal MP, said in a statement here after meeting Singh in New Delhi.

New university and colleges needed to be opened in different states to cater to veterinary, horticulture, food processing and other specialised areas.

"The Agriculture Ministry would look into the special requirements of agricultural education and research in the north-eastern states," Singh was quoted as assuring Rijiju.

Rijiju also handed a memorandum highlighting the requirements of the north-eastern region including enhancement of agricultural education and research.

The Imphal based Central Agriculture University (CAU), which has under its jurisdiction colleges in six North-Eastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura, was also needed to be strengthened, the statement said.

Besides CAU and its affiliated colleges, there is also Assam Agricultural University in Jorhat.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh also met Textiles Minister Santosh Gangwar and discussed issues related to cotton prices and suicides committed by farmers.

"Our efforts will be to ensure that no cotton grower commits suicide. We have to find a solution to this problem. I believe there is a different reason for suicides committed by farmers. We want to ensure that they are in a situation to repay the debt," Gangwar said after the meeting.

Besides, Minimum Support Price of cotton and procurement issues were discussed in the meeting.