Passion for blue gold revived in Mizoram

Aizawl, Dec 21: With the financial assistance from the Centre, the Mizoram Government has started reviving the cultivation of passion fruit.

Addressing the members of the National Passion Fruits Growers Association here today, M L Chaudhary, Commissioner of Horticulture, the Government of India said, '' As long as the state government assures of disposing the produce, the Centre is always ready to extend all possible help. '' '' The farmers should not face any problem due to huge harvest at any cost, '' he added.

'' Even in the last part of this financial year which now gives only three and half month time for production, I assure you of all help, '' he said.

Inspired by the production and the effort made by the farmers and the state Horticulture department, the Commissioner said, '' At least ten thousand hectare of land should be covered within next year alone for the cultivation of passion fruits, and the Union government is ready to extend all the necessary help. '' Assuring that the Centre's purse-strings were not tight, Chaudhary said, '' Financing the farmers in the field of growing passion fruit is no problem, and the state should take proper indicative moves. '' He also opined that the association should act as a brand ambassador between the farmers and the Central government.

Harvesting 24,490 mt of passion fruit alone this year shows that the farmers and the department have not yet given up hope in the horticulture sector, he said.

UNI