Horticulture could boost NE economy: ICAR

Itanagar, Sep 25: Horticultural activities could be a money spinner for the entire Northeastern region with suitable climatic conditions, according to Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Deputy Director General (Horticulture) H P Singh.

Official sources here today said Dr Singh gave this information while addressing the inaugural session of the three-day national seminar on higher crop productivity at College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agriculture University, Pasighat in East Siang district on Monday.

Dr Singh said the NE had high potential for horticultural development and appreciable steps had been taken for development of the sector in the region.

He said acidic soil posed a problem which was also a great national issue and was a hindrance to good productivity in all the hilly states of the country.

''The problem has to be overcome by latest scientific and technological methods for improving both quality of production and fulfilling the objective,'' Dr Singh said, adding that the scientists had successfully discovered new devices.

He also pointed to the failure in implementation of scientific methods effectively due to local problems and lack of management of the local authorities.

He said horticulture contributed to 9.5 per cent of the total GDP and India was the second largest producer of fruits in the world.

''Although climatic fluctuations have great impact on productivity, there has been enhancement of productivity during the past several decades in the country,'' he claimed.

Local farmers from various parts of the district, besides scientists from other states of the country, participated in the seminar, the sources added.

UNI