Two-day horticulture show gets underway in Namchi

WATER HARVESTING TANK CONSTRUCTION BENEFITS ALSO DISTRIBUTED
NAMCHI, 09 Mar: Minister Building & Housing Department, Tilu Gurung inaugurated a two-day horticulture show here at Gandhi Park and Community Center Namchi, South Sikkim on Thursday. The show, organised by Horticulture & Cash Crop Dev. Department and Soil & Water Conservation (NRM), displays flowers, fruits and vegetables from different villages of South District in the stalls set up by progressive farmers, farmers clubs, nurseries and the department.
During the inaugural function, a total of 77 beneficiaries were provided with a cheque of Rs. 40,000 each, 50% subsidy payment along with 200 metres of poly pipes to each water harvesting tank beneficiary. Similarly 6 beneficiaries were also provided with Cymbidium orchids which were sanctioned earlier by the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling during his village-to-village tour.
While addressing the programme chief guest, Minister Tilu Gurung informed that in Sikkim the rate of cultivation and agriculture has increased and today 80% people of state are associated with agriculture. Government jobs do not offer 100% security and the educated youth should not depend on government jobs but should venture into this sector with new innovative ideas and modern techniques.
She also thanked Tika Maya Chamling for her innovative works and for encouraging the progressive farmers to work in floriculture and vegetable production.
Special guest, Minister FSADD&HCCDD, DN Thakarpa said that the beneficiaries have been provided with these benefits as per the scheme sanctioned by the Chief Minster during his Sikkim Bhraman last year. He expressed that as Minister of the Department, he regrets that the department is taking a long time to bring about awareness amongst farmers of the state on the importance of organic mission.
Till now, in South district a total of 2500 hectares of land have been certified as organic land and Sikkim has a total of 7000 hectares of land but the department is working hard and providing every possible help to the farmers to achieve the target of organic state within 2015.
The programme was also addressed by Secretary, Vishal Chauhan, Convener Farmers Cell, ND Sapkota. Earlier the chief guest and special guest along with the officers visited the agriculture, horticulture and floriculture stalls.
The inaugural function was also attended by MLA Namchi Singithang, Binod Rai, Principal Director HCCDD, DK Rai, Advisor Tourism, GM Gurung, Chairman Tea Board, Gagan Rai, DC South, AK Singh, Farmers Cell, DN Sapkota, Panchayats and the Departmental officers.