An interactive session of scientists, farmers, State Agriculture departments and private organisations was held at the ICAR Research Complex for NE Region at Umiam in Meghalaya today to discuss about methods to improve the agricultural scenario in the North East. In his address as chief guest, Dr CD Mayee, Chairman, Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, New Delhi, urged the ICAR to provide support systems to the farming communities, the State governments to serve as watchdogs to protect the farmers' interests. He also urged the local farmers to form associations to develop marketing skills. Dr KM Bujarbaruah, DDG (AS), ICAR, New Delhi, called for massive capacity building together with awareness. There is a need to strengthen the rural research system with focus on developing agriculture as a business venture and to meet food requirements, a system to shift from plenty to scanty in cultivation. Even though India today has been able to address the food crisis unlike other countries, there is a need to address the post-harvest losses, he said. Senior officials from Meghalaya Agriculture department, said that steps would be taken to protect the farmers from the middlemen. Marketing yards would be opened to serve as marketing points. With an aim to increase productivity, high-yielding varieties of crops need to be developed. An interactive session with local farmers was also held who said that lack of information and technology has hampered the farmers to increase crop yields. The farmers need proper avenues to market the crops, more than technology, the farmers said.