Tezpur litchi takes another step towards capturing international market

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TEZPUR: Member of Parliament, Tezpur HPC, Pallab Lochan Das formally inaugurated the expansion of the famous Tezpur Litchi in an additional 202 bighas of land at a programme held at Poruwa in Tezpur on Monday in the presence of District Development Commissioner Utpal Bora, Chief Executive Officer, Zila Parishad Karbi Saikia Karan, Director of Extension Education, Assam Agricultural University, Dr. Prasanna Pathak among others.

He also distributed Litchi saplings among litchi farmers on the occasion. The programme is being implemented by Agnigarh Producer Company, Ltd as part of a joint collaboration of Agriculture department, Sonitpur, Zilla Parishad, KVK, and NABARD and supported by APEDA, APART, BNCA, NERAMAC and Sonitpur district administration.

Earlier this year in June, a consignment of 650 kgs of Tezpur Litchi was flagged off to London by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. Since then, several varieties of Tezpur litchi such as Bombaiya, Bilati and Shahi varieties have received widespread international praise for their unique taste and flavour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also sent an appreciation letter to Chief Minister praising the taste of Tezpur litchi. Speaking on the occasion, MP Pallab Lochan Das thanked the Chief Minister for taking up the special initiative to popularize Tezpur Litchi all over the country and in foreign markets and hoped this endeavour will help change the economic conditions of the farmers. He also said focus should be laid on long term sustainability so that more farmers come forward to exploit the benefits of the GI tag accorded to Tezpur litchi.

In his inaugural speech, DAO Pankaj Saikia informed about the plan to expand the cultivation of Tezpur Litchi and the historical background associated with it.

Deputy Commissioner Deba Kumar Mishra in his speech said the expansion was planned in order to meet the huge demand and the growing market for Tezpur Litchi and at the same time turn it into a sustainable venture for the farmers and said the administration would extend all possible help and support in this regard.

NABARD with the support of Agriculture department, Sonitpur and Assam Agriculture University had promoted Agnigarh Producer Company Ltd, collectivising small, marginal Litchi farmers in and around Tezpur to bring maximum benefits to the farmers by leveraging the GI tag accorded to Tezpur Litchi and a blueprint was prepared to help these litchi farmers to expand their cultivation area in an additional 200 bighas of land.

Tezpur Litchi had received the Geographical Indication tag in 2015 for its excellent quality, pleasant flavour, juicy pulp and attractive colour. The application for GI tag was filed by NERAMAC in August, 2013 which was accepted in March, 2015. A leaflet on packaging and a crop calendar on Tezpur litchi prepared by Dr Angana Sarma, Head, KVK, Napaam was also inaugurated on the occasion.

The programme was also attended by Principal, Extension Training Centre, Naltali, Hareshwar Das, District Development Manager, NABARD, Preetom Nath, DIPRO, Neena Baruah and board of members of Agnigarh Producers Company and other officials of the Agriculture department.

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