The horticulture sector of Tripura is set to get a technological boost from Israel and the Lichi garden at Twidu is likely to become State’s first-ever Centre of excellence for citrus fruit with the active involvement of specialists from Israel, said Director of State Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department, Dr Phani Bhusan.
He said, in this connection Agriculture attaché of Embassy of Israel Yair Eshel – an expert in Horticulture – is currently visiting Tripura. Eshel inspected the facilities at Horticulture and Fruit Research Centre at Nagichhara in Agartala on Saturday and went to inspect ground realities at Twidu-based Lichi garden on Sunday.
A centre of excellence will be set up under Indo-Israel Agriculture Project at an estimated cost of Rs 11.82 crore. Central and State government will shoulder the cost at 90:10 formula whereas Israel will provide technological knowhow, said Dr Jamatia.
Eshel, accompanied Dr Phani Bhusan Jamatia, Dr. Dipak Baidya, assistant director of horticulture, Dipankar Deb, deputy director of horticulture of Gomati Tripura and Kohinoor Debbarma, Agri Superintendent of Ampi and other officials, inspected the Lichi garden and explored possibilities of setting up excellence centre there.
After inspecting the ground realities, Eshel batted for the introduction of technology to increase productivity and experts from Israel can help in providing the technological knowhow. Dr Jamatia said, Israel would extend technological know-how on everything from Nursery management to Post-harvest management.
Moreover, the technology would be Climate control condition type. He also said that two officials of the Horticulture department have been shortlisted to go to Israel for availing training.
A joint DRP by the State Horti department and Israeli experts would soon be prepared and once materialized, this would usher new dawn for the Horti sector in the State, sources said.
Notably, Israel is providing technical assistance to different States in India – as well as in neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan etc.
