INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, PUNJAB PUNJAB TO SET UP “LITCHI” AND “PEAR” CITRIC ESTATES WITH TECHNICAL INPUTS FROM ITALY Aeroponic technique to be used for virus free potato seeds Taking a major stride towards National Horticulture Mission, Punjab has decided to set up two more citric estates of “Litchi” and “Pear” with the technical assistance from Italy besides setting up a the unit to produce high quality virus free potato seed with world class aeroponic technique. Disclosing this here today after being appointed as Director Horticulture, Dr. Gurkawal Singh, who has set the world record in per hectare production of Kinnows in 2001, said that Punjab horticulture department has chalked out a comprehensive plan to develop litchi estate at Pathankot and Pear estate at Amritsar in collaboration with technical experts from Italy. He said that 15 member farmer societies would run these estates and department would provide mini tractors and other equipments to these societies. Mr. Singh further added that horticulture department has also setup potato seed plant at Dhogri with aeroponic technique near Jalandhar in collaboration with Holland in which seed would be free from 16 kinds of viruses. Explaining about the new technique he said that the seed would be produced in air instead of soil by making Mini-tuber, which would be further germinated and hardened in net house. The sowing of disease free potato has been completed and it would give results in 6 months. He said that the main purpose of setting up these citric estates was to harness the potential of the area specific crops to reduce the area under cultivation of paddy and wheat, as this rotation was posing a major threat to the fertility of land in our agri-based state. Dr Gurkanwal, who was instrumental in the establishment of 5 citric estates of kinnow at Abohar, Badal, Bhunga , Hosiarpur and Tahliwala Jattan disclosed that he himself got trained from Israel in 1998. He avers that the need of the hour is to make agriculture in Punjab more healthier, profitable and globally competitive. He said that horticulture department has been identifying the adjoining area of Ludhiana for floriculture centre as it was not only suited for flower production but also had huge marketing potential besides required connectivity both through land and rail routes. He said that a special drive would be started from new year to engage more and more youth in bee keeping as this sector has also a big potential in Punjab for landless and unemployed youth. Under national horticulture mission, Punjab would also provide subsidy, training and technical assistance to interested youths in this regard, he added.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 07:04:51 +0000
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