Mizoram has high potential for horticulture production

Aizawl, Aug 31: Agriculture scientists today said that Mizoram has high potential for horticulture production though its vast potential remained untapped.

Assistant Director General of Indian Council for Agriculture and Research (ICAR) Dr T. Janakiram told reporters here that high quality vegetables and flowers could be produced in the state.

Making special mention of Anthurium, Janakiram said that the centre's Horticulture Mission was successful in the state as Mizoram has become 'the Anthurium state'.

The Centre of Excellence in the state should provide good technology and high quality seedlings and planting materials to the farmers, he said, suggesting that it should initially concentrate on citrus fruits, especially Assam lemon and avacado.

"We would slowly diversify our crops after taking up the two crops," he said, adding that local varieties of vegetables should also be promoted. He also said that contingency plans should be made to overcome constraints in transportation, labour and water management so that the farmers would have a good market linkage.

Counsellor of the International Development Cooperation (Mashav), Science and Technology, Israel Embassy in Delhi Dan Alluf expressed the hope that Mizoram would become a leading partner of Israel in the Indo-Israel partnership of agriculture and horticulture sector. While Israeli experts would come to the state, people from the state would also visit Israel to receive training, he added.

PTI