Union Minister of Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the Indian Agricultural Research Institute's (IARI) Assam campus in Dhemaji district on 26 sept., 2020 and said the setting up of this institute will boost farm education and research activities in the North East. The Union Cabinet in May 2017 had approved setting up of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in Assam at a cost of over ₹155 crore to promote agri-education and realise second green revolution in the north eastern region. “As the pre-fabricated building is ready, the classes of students to be admitted from 2020-21 session will be started at IARI, Assam campus. Initially, three divisions will function namely Division of Crop Improvement, Division of Horticulture and Division of Animal Science & Fisheries,” the statement said. The setting up of this institute will give an impetus to development of agricultural education and research in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim, in addition to Assam. The government is working towards strengthening the agricultural sector for meeting the challenges of rising population and climate change and ensuring sufficient food reserves at all times, the statement said.