Addressing the inaugural function of the Conference of Agriculture and Horticulture Ministers of North-Eastern States in Gangtok today, Shri Pawar said, the north eastern region holds tremendous potential on account of its fertile land, abundant water resources, dependable rainfall and vast biodiversity on the agricultural front.
He informed that more than Rs.850 crore have been allocated to these states under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) this year.
All the NE states are now covered under RKVY for rice. Funds have also been given under the National Horticulture Mission and other schemes.
The Minister urged the NE states to take up oil palm cultivation in the region in the interest of farmers who are assured of buy back of their produce. So far, only Mizoram has been promoting oil palm while Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland have recently evinced interest in this sector. The country had to import edible oil worth more than Rs 63,000 crore last year, whereas the NE region has a huge potential in oil palm cultivation, he said.
Referring to the setting up of Model Horticulture Centres to provide impetus to the floriculture sector, Shri Pawar said, Sikkim has emerged as a hub for Cymbidium orchids with the dedicated agri-export zone for this flower.
He said, his ministry has introduced Horticulture Train for movement of perishable fruits and vegetable from production centre to consumer centre in a scientific manner so that the quality is not affected. This facility should be used especially for transportation of high volume products. For smaller volumes, railways have introduced a scheme of concessional freight for agricultural commodities.
Shri Pawar also informed that the centre proposes to set up College of Veterinary Science in Nagaland, Colleges of Horticulture in Mizoram and in Sikkim, College of Food Technology in Manipur and a College of Agriculture in Meghalaya.
With a view to disseminate latest technologies and capacity buildings of farmers and field staff, Government of India has set up Central Institute of Horticulture in 2005-06 in Nagaland. Stating that, Government of India is committed to develop this institute as a Centre of excellence in the region, Shri Pawar called upon the state governments of NER to avail its facility to its fullest.
