As part of his two-day official tour of Wokha district, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, convened a high-level review meeting with prominent scientific institutions from across the Northeast at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall on 17th June 2025. Advisor to CM Nagaland, Dr. Çhumben Murry was also present during the review meeting.
The meeting was organized to strengthen technological integration in key developmental sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, educational research, and the implementation of central schemes, particularly in Wokha district and the broader state of Nagaland.
Six leading institutions participated in the deliberations: Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati; North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), Shillong; Institute of Bio resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Imphal; CSIR–North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat; the office of the Additional Surveyor General, Eastern Zone, Survey of India, Kolkata; and the Directorate of Geo-Spatial Data, Assam and Nagaland, Guwahati.
Each institute delivered a PowerPoint presentation outlining their current outreach initiatives, technological research, and collaborative programs. The presentations focused on advancing scientific applications in rural development, refining farming practices to boost household economies, and promoting the district’s traditional food and beverage culture through innovation and value addition.
Special emphasis was placed on bioresource utilization and the emerging bioeconomy, with particular attention to banana fibre extraction in Wokha district. As banana has been recognized as the official “One District One Product” (ODOP) of Wokha, the discussion centered on strategies to scale production, promote agribusiness, and integrate sustainable value chains.
Dr. Singh interacted with scientists from the participating institutions and encouraged them to establish active collaboration with line departments in Wokha to translate research into real-world outcomes. He underscored the importance of harnessing science and technology for the holistic development of remote and resource-rich districts like Wokha.
The review meeting marks a significant step in fostering research-to-ground linkages and reaffirming the central government’s commitment to bridging regional development gaps through science-led governance and inclusive innovation.
(DPRO & IA Wokha)
