PASIGHAT, Jul 4: The 3rd Batch Skill Development Training Programme on ‘Agriculture 4.0 Technologies: Building Next-Gen Agri Skills for Tomorrow’s Farms’ concluded successfully at the 5G Training & Innovation Laboratory, College of Agriculture (CoA), Pasighat, Central Agricultural University (Imphal).
The seven-day event, conducted under the NABARD-funded project, ‘Empowering Youth and Women through a Pilot Demonstration of Agriculture 4.0 Technologies for Sustainable Farming and Farmer Welfare in Arunachal Pradesh’ saw a total of 20 participants, comprising 13 boys and 7 girls from East Siang, Lower Siang and West Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, successfully completed the programme.
The participants included agriculture students, rural youth and young professionals who received intensive training and hands-on exposure to emerging Agriculture 4.0 technologies.
The programme was coordinated by Dr Premaradhya N, Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator of the Agriculture 4.0 Project, under the guidance and support of Prof Sanjay Swami, Dean CoA, whose vision and encouragement have been instrumental in establishing the Agriculture 4.0 ecosystem at the College.
The inaugural session was graced by Prof R C Shakywar, In-charge Dean CoA, who encouraged the participants to embrace emerging technologies for sustainable agriculture and assured his continuous support for such capacity-building initiatives.
The valedictory programme was graced by Prof L Wangchu, Dean College of Horticulture and Forestry (Pasighat), as a chief guest, in presence of Prof Shakywar and Kumar Harsh, Faculty, NIELIT and Dr Mahesh Kumar. They appreciated the successful implementation of the programme and encouraged participants to apply the acquired knowledge for the benefit of the farming community.
Nitya Mili, AGM, NABARD, Lower Dibang Valley, appreciated the initiative taken by the CoA, Pasighat, and reaffirmed NABARD’s commitment to supporting innovative projects aimed at empowering youth and promoting sustainable agriculture through technology.
Throughout the programme, participants underwent expert lectures and intensive practical training on Precision Farming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G Communication Technologies, Internet of Things (IoT), Hydroponics, Microgreens, Agricultural Drones, 3D Printing, Smart Farming Technologies and Agri-Tech Entrepreneurship.
A major highlight of the programme was the extensive hands-on practical training. Under the guidance of Ventina Yumnam and Lope Romin, participants gained practical experience in IoT sensor integration, drone assembly, flight planning, agricultural drone flying, mapping, and 3D printer operation, enabling them to understand the real-world applications of modern agricultural technologies.
Moreover, participants appreciated the unique blend of expert lectures, live demonstrations and intensive hands-on training, describing the programme as an excellent platform for developing practical skills and exploring career opportunities in digital agriculture and agri-tech entrepreneurship.