Newmai News Network Shillong | September 19 North Eastern Council (NEC) Secretary Ram Muivah on Tuesday has said that the North East needs a green revolution to transform the lives of the farmers and the populace. Muivah said this while addressing a national seminar on Smart Farming for Enhancing Input Use Efficiency Income and Environmental Security at ICAR, Umiam in Meghalaya today. Pointing out that the green revolution has brought about a remarkable change in states like Punjab, Haryana, the western regions of the country and Andhra Pradesh, Muivah said, “The North East region vitally needs another green revolution”. Stating that before the green revolution the country had shortage of food grain and depended on imports, the NEC Secretary noted that with the green revolution, the country became food grain surplus. However, the North East region was left out and it needs such revolution, he remarked. More than 300 participants from all over India will brain storm on the theme “Smart Farming for Enhancing Input Use Efficiency Income and Environmental Security” during the three-day national seminar. Agricultural diversification, processing and value addition along with entrepreneurship development and smart marketing linkages are seen as some of the ways to double farmers’ income and to achieve the vision of food surplus India. Earlier Director, ICAR Dr. SV Ngachan said that the technology needs to be upgraded for the hilly region because the topography of the region requires special attention. “The technical and brain storming sessions will give a new direction towards the agricultural development and enhance farmers’ income,” Ngachan added. Ex- Vice Chancellor, YSPUH&F, Solan Dr. KR Dhiman, stressed on the implementation of rain-water harvesting, micro irrigation system, and drip irrigation methods to be adopted in the region. “Location specific nutrients have to be developed and production using low productivity input should be implemented,” he viewed. The hilly regions are the custodian of “natural resources” and “organic production system”, he added.