Umiam, Mar 5 (UNI) The three-day North East(NE) Agriculture Fair began in the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) Complex at here today to showcase the manifold agricultural potential of the region.

Inaugurating the fair, Meghalaya Economic Development Council representative D D Lapang said there was a need to empower the farmers through conservation of water resources, develop organic farming, diversification of high value crops for market tapping, high-yielding seed requirements etc.

ICAR Director Dr K M Bujarbaruah said the fair was being held to address the need for eco-regional planning to remove poverty and increase production as agriculture was the main occupation of the NE people.

It was also to apprise the farming community of the changing trends in agricultural production and the schemes available from the Central government and the benefits to be derived from them.

The fair and a National Seminar on ''Extension Strategies in NE Region'' is being held from March 5-7 to bring about an awareness among the farming community, which is being organised by the ICAR and sponsored by the Department of Agriculture&Cooperation, National Horticulture Board, NABARD, Planning Commission, among other organisations.

UNI