On August 19, 2026, Assam’s Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Pijush Hazarika conducted his first visit to Karbi Anglong as the Guardian Minister. During this visit, he chaired an extensive review meeting at Taralangso, aimed at evaluating the implementation of various agricultural schemes, including the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).

The meeting was attended by significant figures including the Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang, local Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and other executive members. They gathered to discuss progress and areas for improvement in the state’s agricultural initiatives.

Focus on Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

During the meeting, Minister Hazarika urged local agribusinesses to take full advantage of the AIF scheme, which provides loans of up to Rs 2 crore with a 3 per cent interest subvention. He outlined several initiatives by the state government aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and supporting farmers.

The Minister mentioned the Chief Minister’s Agriculture Excellence Award as a key initiative, which will recognise 1,000 progressive farmers with a financial reward of Rs 1 lakh each this year. This initiative aims to benefit a total of 10,000 farmers over the next five years.

Efforts to expand the PM-KISAN programme were also discussed, with the Minister highlighting that the state is currently enrolling nearly 6,000 new farmers daily to increase coverage beyond the existing 18.6 lakh beneficiaries, which includes approximately 35,000 farmers in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.

Irrigation Schemes Under Review

In addition to agricultural initiatives, Minister Hazarika also reviewed the work of the Irrigation Department. He examined seven fully operational and 281 partially operational schemes that currently cover 19,000 hectares of land. The Minister expressed a desire to revive 119 defunct irrigation schemes and urged engineers to consider utilising various options such as lift irrigation and canals.

As part of the state’s comprehensive irrigation strategy, he reaffirmed the ambitious target of irrigating 4 lakh hectares of land. This involves initiatives under the Prime Minister’s KUSUM scheme to enhance the efficiency of irrigation efforts across the region.

Later in the day, Minister Hazarika participated in an AIF public meeting held at Sertalin Auditorium. There, he met with progressive farmers, entrepreneurs, and officials from leading banks. During this meeting, he directed the District Agriculture Officer to increase the current number of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) from eight.

He also ceremonially presented a loan sanction cheque to one of the AIF beneficiaries, further illustrating the government’s commitment to supporting local agriculture and fostering economic development within the region.

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