The ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Longleng has brought pride to its district and the state of Nagaland by securing three prestigious awards during the 9th Foundation Day celebration of ICAR-ATARI (Zone-VII), held at Umiam, Meghalaya. The recognition included the title of “Best KVK of Nagaland for 2024–25”, the “Best Performer Award under the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA)”, and the esteemed “Krishi Gaurav Award 2025”, as mentioned in a report released by DIPR.
Adding to the honour, a woman farmer from Kangching village in Tamlu block, Mrs. M. Daoje Phom, received the Krishi Gaurav Award for her exemplary contributions in the field of organic farming and women’s empowerment. Through the establishment and guidance of various women self-help groups (SHGs), she has enabled significant socio-economic upliftment in the region. She operates a 5-hectare Integrated Farming System (IFS), combining crop cultivation, animal husbandry, and fisheries. Under her leadership, 102 women groups are actively engaged in millet-based nutrition programs and food processing activities.
The success of KVK Longleng is largely attributed to the leadership of Senior Scientist and Head, Dr. Hari Charan Kalita, and his dedicated team. Their consistent efforts in promoting organic farming and providing practical training to farmers, especially in remote areas, have earned them widespread appreciation. The award ceremony was graced by Meghalaya’s Agriculture Minister, Dr. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, along with senior officials from ICAR and the respective state departments.
One of the highlights of KVK Longleng’s achievement was its outstanding performance in the VKSA 2025 campaign. The KVK reached out to over 16,800 farmers across 91 villages through 117 different programs. These initiatives focused on key areas such as soil health management, pest control, natural resource utilization, and crop-livestock integration. Subject Matter Specialists like Mr. Shubhendu Kumar Behera, Dr. Lily Ngullie, and Dr. Kalu Ram played an instrumental role in leading awareness campaigns and hands-on demonstrations.
In addition, KVK Longleng conducted field demonstrations on the management of fall armyworm in maize and viral diseases in papaya. They also provided skill development training in turmeric processing, smoked meat preparation, jam and millet-based product making, along with spreading awareness about government schemes like PM-Kisan and e-NAM.
Despite the challenging geographical terrain, the KVK team successfully reached unregistered and remote villages, connecting local farmers with modern agricultural techniques and schemes. This outreach created a wave of awareness and motivation within rural communities, enabling them to embrace innovation and empowerment.
Dr. Homeswar Kalita, Director of ICAR-Nagaland Centre, acknowledged this achievement as a collective success of KVK Longleng and the farmers of the region. This accomplishment stands as a source of inspiration for farmers in Longleng district and reinforces the fact that with dedication and coordinated efforts, agricultural innovation and empowerment can be realized even in the most remote corners of the country.
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