ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Longleng, Nagaland made headlines at the IXth Foundation Day of ICAR-ATARI, Zone-VII, held on June 24, 2025, in Umiam, Meghalaya, by winning three prestigious honours. KVK Longleng was declared the Best KVK for Nagaland (2024–25), the Best VKSA Performer for Nagaland, and saw its farmer trainee M Daoje Phom conferred with the Krishi Gaurav Award 2025 for Best Innovative Farmer.
These recognitions are a result of the KVK’s impactful work in scientific farming, skill-building, and rural empowerment in one of Nagaland’s most challenging districts.
The Best KVK award marks a major milestone for the Longleng centre under the leadership of Dr Hari Charan Kalita, Senior Scientist and Head, along with his dedicated team of Subject Matter Specialists and technical staff. Their efforts in improving farming systems, advancing organic and natural farming, and training farmers in the state’s remote hilly terrain were cited as exemplary.
The awards were presented in the presence of dignitaries including Agriculture Minister of Meghalaya Dr M Ampareen Lyngdoh, AAU Jorhat VC Dr BC Deka, ICAR-ATARI Director Dr AK Mohanty, and officials from the NEH region’s agriculture research institutions.
A key contributor to the recognition was the KVK’s outstanding performance during the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) – 2025, a nationwide awareness campaign held between May 29 and June 12. KVK Longleng conducted 117 training programs across 91 villages, reaching 16,847 farmers — including 9,729 women.
The campaign covered topics such as soil health, organic inputs, pest management, rainwater harvesting, and integrated farming, besides conducting live demonstrations on serious crop diseases. It was led by field teams including Shubhendu Kumar Behera (SMS, Plant Protection), Dr Lily Ngullie (SMS, Animal Science), and Dr. Kalu Ram (SMS, Fruit Science), supported by scientists from ICAR Nagaland Centre, university faculty, and agri-allied officials.
Skill-based activities such as turmeric processing, smoked meat production, millet-based products, and Nutri Dish competitions were also organized, along with awareness drives on schemes like PM-KISAN, e-NAM, and Kisan Call Centres.
The Krishi Gaurav Award 2025 was awarded to M Daoje Phom, a progressive woman farmer from Kangching village, Tamlu block. Her 5-hectare Integrated Farming System, combining crops, poultry, goatery, fisheries, and horticulture — all managed organically — stood out as a model of sustainable agriculture. She also serves as the secretary of 102 Self Help Groups (SHGs) and is widely recognized for empowering rural women through training in food processing and natural farming.
“This achievement is not only of ICAR-KVK Longleng but also of the farmers and women who trusted science and worked hard to change their lives,” said Dr Homeswar Kalita, Head of ICAR Nagaland Centre. He acknowledged the support of ICAR-ATARI, ICAR NEH Region, and other stakeholders in this collective milestone.