Sikkim’s first seed testing lab set up in Jorethang

UNIT WILL PROVIDE SEEDS TO SOUTH AND WEST DISTRICTS
NAMCHI, 27 April: The Food Security and Agriculture Department inaugurated the first Seed Testing laboratory here at Jorethang, South Sikkim which will provide seeds to South and West Districts. Minister Food Security & Agriculture, DN Thakarpa was the chief guest of the programme and was accompanied by MLA, Madan Cintury and Chairman Jorethang Nagar Panchayat, Purosuttan Agarwal.
Addressing the function Minister, DN Thakarpa said that it is the vision of Sikkim to become the country’s first organic state by 2015 and this laboratory plays an important role in this mission. He said that this laboratory must be fully functional and can be an important source of income for the farmers of the South and West districts. He urged the officers to take this laboratory as their responsibility.
Although Sikkim has limited cultivating land, the Government of Sikkim is striving towards making it a completely organic land, said the Minister. Till today 8000 hectare of land has been certified as organic land but the import of seeds from other states has lowered the value of production but with this testing unit farmers will be provided with organic seeds which will increase the value of production, he said.
He also informed that the department will soon make organic seeds available in every market of Sikkim from where the farmers can get the seeds.
MLA, Madan Cintury in his address said that agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry are the main sources of income for 75% of the state’s population and the government is giving maximum priority to these sectors.
During the programme Principal Director SPU, PK Dewan placed his technical report of this seed testing unit. The programme was also addressed by the Additional Director, DK Rai who said that this seed testing unit has been opened with the objective of providing better quality seed to the farmers. With this unit the department can now prepare better seeds here in Sikkim which will not only help the farmers but also help in improving the quality and quantity of production, he added.
The programme was also attended by Principal Director, Phetuk Tsh. Bhutia, JD (S) FS & AD, Sonkil Lepcha, Chief Engineer, SK Pal and other officers from the department.
Earlier the Minister, MLA, Secretary and other officers also visited the seed testing laboratory and the entire unit.