Programmes established in four districts of Arunachal Pradesh covering over 50 villages will benefit over 10,000 farmers in the next two years
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated a new Biotechnology Centre for Northeast tribals in a remote area of Arunachal Pradesh at Kimin.
According to the minister, the centre will greatly help in improving the socio-economic status of tribal people in the state. The centre aims at conservation and sustainable utilisation of the local bio-resources using biotechnological tools and is ably supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.
Dr Singh added, “The centre has also established academic linkages with several ICAR, CSIR Institutions, for efficient implementation of these programmes as they will create employment opportunities for the prospective young entrepreneurs of the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The facilities for the implementation of these programmes will be established in four districts of Arunachal Pradesh covering over 50 villages and benefit over 10,000 farmers in the next two years.”
The minister said that the centre is focusing on the implementation of the following three major programmes for benefit of the region. (i) State-of-the-Art Orchidarium in the main Centre at Kiminfor conservation and multiplication of priority orchid species along with establishing satellite units in selected districts of Arunachal Pradesh, (ii) Establishment of banana fibre extraction and processing units in selected districts of Arunachal Pradesh, and (iii) Establishment of Aroma Unit for promotion of cultivation of aromatic crops and entrepreneurship development.
Dr Singh also dedicated DBT-funded Skill Vigyan Program in Biotechnology to the state of Arunachal Pradesh during the event. The minister said the programme is under the purview of Skill India Mission through which the DBT makes alignment with Skill Development Councils of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and various Partnering Institutions towards handholding of this programme.
