IMPHAL, June 11: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh inaugurated the 1st Manipur National Horti Expo-2015 at the Manipur Film Development Corporation Hall, Imphal today.
Addressing the function, he said `I hope and wish that this expo will provide an opportunity for us to take stock of the potential and prospects in horticulture sector of the potential and prospects in horticulture sector in the region besides, identifying strategies for further development in horticulture/floriculture sectors`.
Noting the rich natural resources in the hill areas feasible for development of horticultural corps which can provide quality products as well as employment to the formers to improve their standards of living, the Chief Minister said that the State is lagging far behind in commercialisation due to lack of exposure to outside States/countries.
The national horticultural expo cum workshop under the theme `Strenghtening horticulture development for enhancing productivity, quality and sustainable livelihood` is providing the right time to march towards commercialization, he observed.
It is learnt that 60 exhibitors including national level companies, firms along with other companies from the State are expected to participate in the expo, he continued.
The buyers and sellers meet will provide an opportunity to the farmers for contact and selling of their farm produces profitably, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said.
It is pertinent to mention here that ICAR, CAU are joining hand with the State government in this programme for bringing largest benefit to farmers of the State, he continued.
State government will encourage these kinds of initiatives fully for the betterment of the State and farmers in particular, said that Chief Minister.
The expo cum workshop will give the visitors the taste and quality of unforgettable Tamenglong oranges, the juicy pineapple of Manipur, the aroma of passion fruit of Senapati and Churachandpur, the beauties of Siroi and Dzuko lilies of Ukhrul and Senapati as well as the numerous orchid varieties of the state, he continued.
Noting that the lemon species found at Kachai village known as Kachai lemon has got GIS patent in the world recently, Ibobi said the expo can show the world that the state of Manipur has got numerous flora and fauna which have significant identity.
Moreover, the workshop on `Strengthening horticultural development for enhancing productivity, quality and sustainable livelihood` will create a public/private partnership towards development of a new policy, said the Chief Minister.
Joint Secretary/Mission Director (MIDH), DAC, Government of India Sanjeev Chopra who attended the inaugural function as the guest of honour said the conventional demand for wheat and rice has now reached a certain level that we need to concentrate more on comprehensive farming which will bridge the gap of other nutritional products in agriculture and horticulture said today.
He further said that it is wrong for the people to have a mind lock that the region has a small portion of land for farming.
Now scientific approach in agriculture and horticulture is developed and highly trained resource persons in the respective field who can provide the technical knowhow and means to produce profit yielding products from small amount of land are also widely available, he added.
State Horticulture Mission, Manipur in collaboration with National Skill Foundation of India, Gurgaon, Haryana and Central Agricultural University, Imphal sponsored Horticulture expo is jointly organised by Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Government of Manipur and ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Manipur Centre.
State Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who also holds the portfolio of Minister Home, TD, Horti & Soil Conservation said the people need to shift to a more scientific approach of cultivation and farming.