TO SET UP MRL LABS, SOIL & SEED TESTING LABS IN EACH STATE
Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare secretary Manoj Ahuja reviewed implementation of major Central schemes and programmes in North-eastern States at Central Institute of Horticulture (CIH), Medziphema on Saturday.
He held detailed discussion with heads of departments (HoDs) of the State governments of the region and assured to resolve the problems faced by them. Major issues like non-availability of planting materials for oil palm and those related to release of funds were also discussed.
At the meeting, additional secretary Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Dr Abhilaksh Likhi shared information on the schemes and programmes being implemented in the Northeast.
He emphasised National Mission on Edible Oil- Oil Palm, National Mission of Edible Oilseeds, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY), formation and promotion of Farmer Producers Organisations (FPOs), National Bamboo Mission and National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM). Officials of the respective State governments of the region shared status and issues related to implementation of the Central government schemes.
After reviewing the schemes and detailed presentations by the North-eastern States, Ahuja assured them all help.
The meeting further decided i) setting up of MRL labs, soil testing & seed testing labs in each State, ii) timely conduct of State Level Steering Committee (SLSC) for approval of proposal and projects, iii) timely submission of all the UCs and Progress report, iv) coordinate with research institutes such as ICAR, SAUs, KVKs for latest production technology and dissemination through extension system, v) value chain development for agricultural produce and vi) taking up and completion of infrastructure project under RKVY timely. On the occasion, Ahuja also inaugurated exhibition stalls at CIH.
Meanwhile, the Central team led by Ahuja interacted with pineapple growers from Molvom village, which has largest area under pineapple plantation, during a field visit on Sunday. The pineapple growers requested the team to set up a fruit processing facility at the village so that the surplus produce could be processed at village level and make it available to consumers at other places. The team appreciated the efforts of FPO formed under MOVCDNER, a major initiative of the Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
The team also visited Bamboo Resources Centre here to see the facilities for promotion of bamboo-based products like bamboo charcoal, furniture, incense stick-making, etc. The Central officials also interacted with State government officials and suggested various steps to promote bamboo-based activities under National Bamboo Mission to improve the livelihood of small and marginal farmers with bamboo-based agroforestry system. They further visited the processing and testing facility for honey set up under Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission. The facility is used for processing different kinds of honey collected from rock bees, stingless bees and other local bees.
Both Ahuja and Likhi also suggested various measures for further developing the beekeeping with help from National Beekeeping & Honey Mission.
The State government officials showed the state-of-the-art facility developed here for marketing organically-grown produce at Organic AC Market having facility for grading, packaging, drying and cold storage for perishable produce. The produce coming from different districts are sold through the Organic AC market to local consumers.
The Central team appreciated the efforts of Nagaland in promoting and developing agriculture and horticulture sectors. This was stated in a PIB press release.