FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
ITAGAR, Feb 12: The way forward has been drawn for early functioning of the newly created Regiol Research Station of Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, ICAR at Dirang in West Kameng district of Aruchal Pradesh. This was informed by, Head of State Horticulture Research and Development Institute (SHRDI) Egam Basar at an interactive meeting convened by Dr. N K Krish Kumar, DDG ( Horticulture), ICAR, at New Delhi recently. Basar informed about current status of land transfer and approval of the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the state government to expedite the process of establishment and functioning. The MoU between ICAR and the Aruchal Pradesh government is expected to be signed in the first week of the April next and the DDG has reiterated the commitment of ICAR to make the centre functiol as soon as possible. It was agreed that since it will require a considerable time for ICAR to recruit manpower to run the institute, till such time, the SHRDI will help in functioning the station by deputing its manpower and carry out the mandated research works in collaboration with the CITH, Srigar. The Regiol Research Station which was conceptualised during 2012 had filly got approved by the Centre during 2014 and it is expected to boost the production of temperate horticulture crops and help raising horticulture based economy of Aruchal Pradesh and other north eastern states. The farmers in particular will be benefitted through technological intervention, availability of Quality Planting Materials and training on production of important temperate crops like Apple, Kiwi, Walnut and high altitude medicil plants, which otherwise was very difficult due to dependence on other States like J&K and Himachal Pradesh, Basar said. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Deshbir Singh, Director, CITH (Srigar) and Dr. Manish Das, Principal Scientist (Horticulture), ICAR, New Delhi.