Sikkim Agri Minister lauds CSIR-IHBT's research work
Palampur, February 18
Lok Nath Sharma, Agriculture and Horticulture Minister of Sikkim, today visited the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology (IHBT).
He appreciated the work of the institute in development of high-end research-based technologies and their deployment for boosting the rural economy. He showed a keen interest to establish the CSIR-IHBT centre in Sikkim for fast deployment of relevant technologies, training and skill development to strengthen their ongoing development programmes.
Visit to strengthen cooperation
My visit to the CSIR-IHBT will further strengthen cooperation on hydroponics and aeroponics, cultivation of asafoetida, aromatic and medicinal plants, floriculture and food processing, which will help in capacity building among farmers. —Lok Nath Sharma, Agriculture and Horticulture minister of Sikkim
He sought assistance from the CSIR for cultivation of heeng, saffron, monk fruit and cinnamon.
The minister lauded the efforts of the CSIR-IHBT for initiating the cultivation of pearl integrated with aquaculture. He said his visit to the CSIR-IHBT would further strengthen cooperation on hydroponics and aeroponics, cultivation of asafoetida, aromatic and medicinal plants, floriculture and food processing, which would help in capacity building among farmers.
Dr Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSIR-IHBT, talked about the major achievements and research activities of the institute. He said the institute played a significant role through judicious utilisation of available resources. Cultivating and processing aromatic crops such as wild marigold, damask rose, lemon grass enabled farmers to become self-reliant and earn more income.
He said the CSIR-IHBT was closely working with North-East states for developing clusters for production of vitamin D2-rich shiitake mushroom and vermicomposting under the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI).
