Israel to assist Mizo to combat orange disease

Aizawl, Dec 14: Mizoram government would be signing a multi- crore contract with Israel Co-operation of Agriculture for combating for conquering orange plant disease in the region.

Locally known as 'Tam', the plant disease has wrecked havoc in the famed orange farms of the state over the past many years.

The reason is all too evident because for the past two years the well-nurtured and full-grown orange trees wither away, fail to bloom or respond to chemicals prescribed even by the expert horticulturists.

At the root it is an unidentified virulent agent, similar to bacteria or virus that causes blights in other plants.

''Recently, the state government sought assistance of the Israel Co-operation of Agriculture to weed out the virus. Officials of the state horticulture department were sent to Iseral. Signing of an MoU is expected soon'', state horticulture commissioner Lalramthanga Tochhawng said.

The commissioner added the western belt of the state, bordering Tripura and Bangaladesh, has been found suitable for orange plantation, but tam has hampered the production.

Israeli technology will help in form beating the disease.

Currently, comparative productivity rate per hectare was far below other states because of variety of reasons, particularly lack of high-yielding seeds, he pointed out.

The NE, including Mizoram, is home to many tropical and sub-tropical fruits like pineapple, pear, pech and plum.

''With modern technology from Israel, we hopd to cross the hurdles in the horticulture sector for commercial produce of a variety of these tropical fruits'', Mr Tochhawng said.

UNI