NEDF, Tripura sign MoU for R

Agartala, Dec 28: A Research and Development Centre for aromatic and medicinal plants will be set up at Nagichherra Horticulture complex in Tripura by the state government in collaboration with North-Eastern Development Finance Ltd(NEDFI).

With the objective of promoting medicinal and aromatic plantation and extending marketing of the produces, a Mou was signed at the state secretariat today in the presence of state Agriculture Minister Tapan Chakraborty, Chairman-cum Managing Director of NEDFI K N Hazarika and State Agriculture Commissioner D Venkateswaraloo signed the Mou.

Talking to the mediapersons later, Mr Hazarika said, ''The R&D centre would initially draw an investment of Rs 10 lakhs and it might go up to crores.

Asserting the potential of medicinal plantation, he said NEDFI would cater to all kinds of help including marketing.

He said no agricultural land would be used for the plantation of medicinal and aromatic plantation.

Applauding the initiative of NEDFI for the development of the state, Mr Venkateswraloo termed the current step as unique.

A seminar on medicinal and aromatic plants in the state was also organised at the Nagichherra Horticulture complex. ICAR Tripura centre joint director Dr N P Singh chaired the seminar.

UNI