Tripartite MoA signed for export of 15 Mt organic products
Source: IT News / DIPR
Imphal, November 25 2018:
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed today between the Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA), Diocesan Social Service Society (DSSS), Imphal and Riverbeki (OPC) Private Limited, Guwahati in presence of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar.
Addressing the media persons at his New Secretariat office, Minister Th.Shyamkumar said that a tripartite MOA has been signed for exporting organically produced 15 MT (metric tonne) dried ginger and turmeric.
He hoped that the initiatives of MOMA under the aegis of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department will benefit the organic farmers of the State.
Encouraging the organic farmers of the State to continue to work hard to increase the production, he said that the farmers need not worry to find a market place to sell their produces/products and assured full support from the department.
Stating that the buyers will export the products of Manipur in Europe and other countries, he said in the near future the State will try to export more quantity of products, maintaining the quality of the products.
Minister Shyamkumar further said that the various initiatives are taken by the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department with a mission so that Manipur can become an organic state.
Stating that the products produced in the State has a unique taste, he hoped that the buyers and consumers will increase the demand of the products thus helping in the economy of the State.
He appealed to all the stakeholders including the farmers to fully cooperate to make Manipur a chemical free state and put a name in the global map in the field of organic produces/products.
K.Debadutta Sharma, Project Director, MOMA said that the MOA signed today will benefit 2,000 ginger farmers and 2,500 turmeric farmers of the State.
He hoped that the initiative will surely encourage the organic farmers to increase their production and boost their morale.
Speaking on technical issues, he said earlier the organic farmers of the State faced problems of finding a market place to sell their organic produces/products.
He said at present the department is lacking in infrastructure such as grading of the organic produces, shorting out of organic produces, cleaning and packaging of the products.
He hoped that once the infrastructural requirements are cleared, the State can easily export the products worldwide.
He further informed that within next month e-auction of organic produces will be done under the Ministry of Steel and appreciated the higher authorities of the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department for their cooperation with the MOMA.
The tripartite memorandum of agreement was signed by Prajnan Kumar Roy, Director, Riverbeki (OPC) Pvt Ltd., Guwahati; Avince Anthony Dilbung, Director, Diocesan Social Service Society (DSSS), Imphal and K.Debadutta Sharma, Project Director, MOMA under the aegis of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department.
Speaking on the sidelines of the press conference, Minister Th.Shyamkumar who also holds the portfolio of Forest and Environment appealed to all to stop illegal construction in and around the Loktak Lake as it can adversely affect the fresh water lake, which is the largest in the entire North East region.
Forest and Environment Minister Th.Shyamkumar appealed to all to stop using unconventional method of fishing in the Loktak Lake using battery and other electronic devices which are damaging the eco-system of the lake.
He also appealed to stop the constructions of buildings including hospital, school among others without getting clearance from the authorities concerned.
He said any such illegal construction in and around the Loktak Lake will attract legal action.
The Minister firmly stated that there can be no development at the cost of the environment.
He also clarified that the conventional method used by the residents in and around Loktak Lake for livelihood is allowed including boating considering the hardships faced by them.
He appealed to the locals and others to stop any illegal construction and activities which can harm the ecological balance of the Loktake Lake.
Comment
