PM Modi lauds CSIR-IHBT for apple cultivation in Manipur

Palampur, July 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded the efforts of the CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, for helping farmers to cultivate apple in northeastern states, particularly in Ukhrul district of Manipur, in the “Mann ki Baat” programme yesterday.

Dr Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSIR-IHBT, while talking to The Tribune, thanked the Prime Minister for appreciating the role of the institution. He said it was an ambitious project for which his institution had signed a memorandum of understanding with an NGO. He said the CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, had supplied 40,000 plants for cultivation in Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

“The IHBT has developed a tissue culture-based virus-tested apple root stock technology, which is being used for grafting apple varieties. We introduced these varieties in Manipur and other northeastern states,” he added.

“We supplied apple saplings, provided training to farmers in Manipur for cultivation and did continuous handholding,” Kumar said. — OC