MoU signed for tapping State's potential in Citrus products
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 12 2024:
The Department of Horticulture & Soil Conservation, Government of Manipur and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Institute- Central Citrus Research Institute ( ICAR- CCRI), Nagpur, Maharashtra have joined hands to tap the State's potential in Citrus products by delivering scientific technologies to farmers.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Monday during the ongoing two days ICAR-CCRI Agro-industry Meet from March 11-12, 2024, said a release.
During the event, K Debadutta Sharma, Director of Horticulture & Soil Conservation, Government of Manipur said, "Today is such a special and remarkable day particularly for Manipur which will create a landmark in agricultural growth & development and its way forward" .
"The convergence of activities to achieve a common vision through collaborative effort of State Government of Manipur and ICAR, CCI, Nagpur towards tapping the State's potential in Citrus products especially GI tagged-Kachai Lemon and Tamenglong Orange and enriching local entrepreneurs skill through incubation to inoculate with developed technologies which will capacitate the entrepreneurs to transform into potential Citriprenuers in the State is the underlying meaning of the MOU that's being inked", he added.
Notably, the MOU is aimed at bringing a new scientific era with commitment to deliver scientific technologies to Citrus Farmers for quality production and bridge the gap between demand & supply through product diversification of citrus with latest technologies in the field of processing and value addition of citrus products in Manipur.
The MoU will play an instrumental role in quality management, securing post-harvest losses of citrus products and shaping up the State's economy through entrepreneurship development under ICAR- Central Citrus Centre, Nagpur.
As per the MOU, the Department of Horticulture & Soil Conservation will nominate identified, dedicated Citrus Incubatees (Entrepreneurs dealing on GI tagged Tamenglong Orange and Kachai Lemon) minimum of three in a year for undergoing business incubation at Citrihub, ICAR- CCRI, Nagpur where hands on training programme in ideation, validation, product testing, brand building, regulatory aspects will be provided with business incubation completion Certificate to all the nominated incubatees from the State.