Agriculture Minister visits Indo- Israel project site at Pusa, New Delhi

GANGTOK, 29 Feb: A team headed by Minister for Food Security and Agriculture Development Department and Horticulture and Cash Crop Development Department, Government of Sikkim, DN Thakarpa and comprising of Advisor Farmers Cell, Deepak Gurung, Convenor of Farmers Cell, DN Sapkota and Director of Agriculture Department, Khorlo Bhutia visited the Centre for Protected Cultivation and Technology commissioned as an Indo – Israel project at Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi on 07 February.
A press release informs that the motive behind the visit was to get first hand information on the major technologies in various aspects of agriculture and horticulture that can be replicated in the state of Sikkim. In-charge of the Centre, Dr. Bala Raj Singh explained all the technologies related to protected cultivation. Major demonstration units visited were the protected cultivation of tomato and capsicum, protected nurseries, drip irrigation, roof water harvesting. Head of Floriculture Division, Dr. Ramesh Kumar and Head of Genetic Division, Dr. KV Prabhu took the team to demonstration units of gladiolus cultivation and mustard breeding unit, the release informs.
After the visit, the Minister interacted with the Director of Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Dr. HS Gupta. During the interaction various issues related to technology dissemination and replication for hill agriculture were discussed. The Director assured all possible technological help for Sikkim in aspects such as providing seeds of newly released varieties of horticultural and agriculture crops for frontline demonstrations and training on latest technologies, the release mentions.