The Research-Extension-Farmer Interface Meeting held on 1st June 2023 at Borgang Village, Marngar Clusters, was a significant initiative organized by ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, under the Farmer FIRST project. The meeting coincided with the visit of Dr. A K Mohanty, Director of ICAR-ATARI Zone VII, to the adopted villages of Marngar clusters.
        A total of 13 farmers from the Marngar cluster attended the interface meeting, which was coordinated by the Division of Technology Assessment and Capacity Building. The primary objective of the meeting was to facilitate open interaction with farmers to understand their level of sustainability and identify common constraints related to farming practices in the region.
        Following the interactive session, a field visit was conducted to the farms of progressive farmers, namely Mr. Julan Sylliang from Borgang, Mr. Gumbir Syiem from Lalumpam, and Mr. Jiten Sohkhwai from Nalapara. The purpose of the field visit was to observe the level of innovativeness and sustainability in their farming practices.
        The Research-Extension-Farmer Interface Meeting provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by farmers in the Marngar cluster and their level of sustainability in farming practices. The open interaction allowed researchers to understand the specific needs and constraints of farmers, enabling the development of targeted interventions and solutions.
        The field visit to the farms of progressive farmers offered an opportunity to observe innovative and sustainable farming practices firsthand. By highlighting successful case studies, the visit served as inspiration for other farmers and encouraged the adoption of similar practices to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability in the region.
        The programme was coordinated by a team of experts including Dr. A K Mohanty (Director-ICAR ATARI), Dr. A K Singha (PI FFP ATARI), Dr. Aniruddha Roy (Senior Scientist), Dr. Tasvina Borah (Co-PI), Dr. Anjoo Yumnam (Co-PI), Mr. Chikkathimme Gowda HR (Co-PI), Lutmonhaki Dkhar (Senior Research Fellow), Wanbiang Dkhar (Project Assistant), and Wanphrang Kharkongor (Senior Research Fellow). Their coordination ensured the successful organization of the interface meeting and the conduct of meaningful field visits to assess farming practices and sustainability levels among farmers.