Guwahati: The Arunachal Government has devised a way to empower local farmers by providing a large market for their goods.

The Arunachal Government's new initiative will strengthen ties between local farmers and the Indian Army while also assisting farmers in increasing their income.

The Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board (APAMB) launched 'Mission Krishi Veer' on Tuesday at the civil secretariat here, with the goal of meeting the demand for fresh fruits and vegetables by the Indian Army stationed in the Kameng sector (Tawang, West Kameng, and some pockets of East Kameng district).

The Tawang Large Area Multipurpose Society (LAMPS) and the Jang LAMPS, represented by Tawang LAMPS MD Nali Medo and Jang LAMPS MD Sangey, signed an agreement of cooperation.

The mission also aims to enhance the link between indigenous tribal farmers and border guards, fostering trust and harmony while lowering post-production and logistic losses by raising farmers' profits.

The board will operate as a facilitator between the LAMPS' and the SHGs under the ArSRLM in the scheme's implementation, with the goal of utilising local excess output to fulfil the army's need. Panchayati Raj Minister Bamang Felix, who attended the opening event, urged the APAMB to emphasize production, supply, marketing, and monitoring continuity.

"Whether manufacturing, supply, or marketing continue, there should be continuity." This should serve as an example for others. "If the supply to the army is effective, it would cover all of India," Felix remarked, urging the APAMB to watch the situation.

"Involving SHGs is a terrific endeavour to make the project succeed," Felix said. He requested that the rural development secretary "provide explicit instructions to the project director and DPDO to monitor and assist the mission."

Minister of Agriculture and Horticulture Tage Taki proposed "enlarging the marketing circle so that supply and marketing develop exponentially." He stated that his departments would issue thorough recommendations on the setting of vegetable and fruit tariffs before they are delivered to the LAMPS.

Tage Taki also encouraged the LAMPS to take account of the army's unique need for veggies.

Prashant Lokhande, Planning Commissioner, stated that Rs 4 crore has been granted as "revolving money to mobilise the mission, so that farmers or suppliers receive prompt payment."

APAMB CEO Okit Palling presented an outline of 'Mission Krishi Veer,' saying, "This effort intends to convert the existing operational structures of multiple stakeholders, viz., ArSRLM, LAMPS' and marketing board, into a coherent and collaborative endeavour." "The army's entire need each day is 23 tonnes - 17 tonnes of fruits and 23 tonnes of vegetables," he said.

"In Arunachal Pradesh, there are 1,17,000 farmers farming on 5.4 lakh hectares of land, and Arunachal Pradesh produces 330 tonnes of fruits and 390 tonnes of vegetables per day," he added.