IT News
Thoubal,Aug.10,
The Seed Processing Unit and Office Building of KVK Thoubal Under Seed Hub Project National Food Security Mission Govt. of India was inaugurated today by Agri, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister V. Hangkhalian in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary Agri, Letkhogin Haokip, IAS, Director of ICAR-ATARI Zone VII, Umiam Barapani, Meghalaya Dr. Bidyut C. Deka and Agriculture Director, Ph. Rajendra.
In her keynote Address, Dr. Zeshmarani Sarangthem Sr. Scientists & Head KVK Thoubal said that the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Thoubal and my own behalf would like to thank the Indian Council of Agricultural Research for providing this Seed Processing Plant with an attached Seed Godown.
The installed capacity of the processing Plant is 1TP (One Ton per hour ). the only one amongst all the 9 KVKs in the State having a Seed Processing Plant under the National Food Security Mission, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Govt. of India. The main objective of this project is to facilitate availability of Quality Planting Materials (QPM) of Pulses to the farmers of all the KVKs in Manipur.
Seed is a vital component for harvesting good yields from any crop by way of ensuring optimum plant population, proper crop health and growth. In pulses, quality seed supply always remains a major constraint limiting production mud productivity. Pulses are known as cheap source of protein for largely agrarian population World Wide, particularly in India. Realizing the importance of protein from plant sources, the Consumption is becoming more popular in different parts of the globe. Accordingly, demand for pulses has gone up internationally, she said.
Setting up a Seed processing plant under the Seed Hub is an important component of the Scheme of the National Food Security Mission of the Ministry of Agriculture & farmers Welfare, Govt. of India, a sum of Rs. 50.00 lakh was sanctioned and released to this Centre during 2016-17. However, due to technical problems the infrastructures Could not be created till the lapse of a financial year.
V. Hangkhalian urged to use of high yielding crop varieties for enhancing production in the state to enable the doubling of farmers’ income by 2022.
The Minister further added that with the increasing population, the areas of cultivation also need to be extended in the State.
KVK Scientists, Staffs of KVK and other concerned officials were also present at today’s inaugural function.
