Guwahati, June 16: The North Eastern Council (NEC), under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), has announced a major funding push and the rollout of a smart agriculture initiative in Arunachal Pradesh, aimed at accelerating development and tech-driven farming in the region.
As part of its ongoing efforts, the NEC has disbursed ₹11.37 crore in May 2025 for a wide range of development projects across Arunachal Pradesh. The funding targets critical sectors including tourism, industry, agriculture, transport and communication, science and technology, human resource development, irrigation, flood control, water management, and cultural preservation. NEC officials said the timely release of funds is meant to ensure swift implementation and completion of high-impact initiatives.
A standout among the funded projects is a first-of-its-kind smart agriculture mission titled “Technological Intervention using Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things for Smart Agriculture in North East India.” The initiative, led by the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology (NERIST), aims to modernize agriculture by integrating real-time monitoring and AI-powered analytics into farming practices.
Scheduled for completion by April 2028, the three-year project will deploy advanced sensors and a mobile app to give farmers 24×7 access to critical data — including soil moisture, temperature, humidity, and crop health. This real-time intelligence will allow farmers to detect problems early, manage resources more efficiently, and improve yields, especially in remote and rural areas.
The project is expected to reduce dependence on manual labor and enhance self-reliance among farmers. By bringing smart farming to the Northeast, NEC hopes to create a sustainable, tech-enabled agricultural model that can be replicated across other states.
The NEC also marked the release of the NEC Yearbook 2025, a comprehensive guide to socio-economic indicators and key initiatives across the region. Now in its second edition, the yearbook serves as a resource for policymakers, researchers, and analysts. It is available at necouncil.gov.in.
With these new investments and forward-looking initiatives, NEC is positioning Arunachal Pradesh and the wider Northeast to become a hub of innovation and sustainable development.
