Semi-High Tech Nursery for fruit-bearing trees coming up at Pangthang

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: Work on setting up a “Semi-High Tech Propagation Nursery” of local fruit-bearing tree species under the JICA-assisted Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project [SBFP] is being undertaken on a war-footing at Pangthang above Gangtok here.

This unique nursery, being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 9.5 lakh will come up on a 500 sq mt plot and will be used mainly for the propagation of local species like oak [chestnut or katus] and other wild fruit-bearing tree species of Sikkim.
The project, which started last week, is expected to be completed within this month.
Additional PCCF cum SBFP Project Director, Dr Anil Mainra, mentioned that there are many advantages of this nursery and it will ensure better results and seedlings under the semi-controlled conditions. He mentioned that the nursery will maintain the temperature and humidity under the standard green house of the nursery and will help to produce good seedlings.
He mentioned that the oak species is endemic and also important to Sikkim as it is a water retentive species and important for bird diversity in the state. The seedlings of the various species prepared in the nursery can be planted at suitable locations, he added.
He informed that two more semi high-tech nurseries will come up in West and South Sikkim and a high-tech nursery for floriculture is being developed at Bulbuley.
Likewise, a preliminary design for a Bio- Diversity Training Institute at Pangthang has also been prepared. This institute will provide training to the staff and officials of the Forest Department.
Dr. Mainra informed that at a meeting on 29 November in New Delhi, SBFP officials made a presentation on forestry infrastructure damages estimated at Rs 13.12 crore due to the 18 September Earthquake to JICA officials and in return JICA assured to provide full support to the SBFP. He informed that the SBFP is now awaiting a formal letter of support from JICA.
The Project Director informed that capacity building and other activities have also been undergoing across the state under SBFP.