Itanagar: The Spices Board of India has given its approval for the establishment of a Mini Spices Park for Ginger at Itanagar in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh government.
Dr. Hatobin Mai, the lone member of the Spices Board from the NE Region said today, the newly constituted Spices Board took the decision in its Board meeting held at Kochi on June 23, last.
The land for the same will be provided by the state government, while the Spices Board will give other technical and strategic support for the establishment of the park.
During the meeting Dr Mai called for restructuring and revamping the Spices Board to increase its outreach in the potential states of the North Eastern Region with special emphasis on Arunachal Pradesh.
Highlighting the difficult climatic conditions of the NE region which pose unique challenges for the cultivators, Dr Mai appealed for ‘a proper safety net for the cultivators in the form of increased subsidies, infrastructure provisions and other related factors which may be specially considered for the region’.
The Spices Board should also initiate major training and awareness drives towards working in better co-ordination with all the stakeholders like the cultivators and other governmental and non-governmental agencies, Dr.Mai informed.
Other concerns like proper marketing linkages to increase export competitiveness of the region were also placed for consideration of the Board.
While calling for revising the existing schemes which are nominal in nature Dr. Mai requested the Board to consider special schemes for skill development, technology upgradation and entrepreneurship development.
The Board assured that infrastructure development and optimum manpower deployment in the region will be undertaken in a phased manner.
The Board also resolved that more emphasis will be given to NE states for organic spices and a proper road map will be prepared like interstate field visits of farmers and other stakeholders would be taken up soon.
The Board would also set up Spices Parks in Meghalaya and Manipur.
While focussing on the natural menaces to cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh, Dr. Mai stressed on an integrated approach to provide requisite infrastructure for mitigation of the same for the benefit of the cultivators.
The Board in response resolved to initiate a pilot programme to safeguard the large cardamom plantations, providing barbed wire fencings for mithun control and to provide subsidy for rat menace in the state.
The Board sought details from the Horticulture Department of the state to formalise this programme for early implementation. (UNI)
