CM opens Agri Horti Expo
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, April 28 2023: Chief Minister N Biren Singh today opened an "Agri Horti Expo for Organic and Indigenous Products of Manipur & Buyer Seller Meet" at Hapta Kangjeibung, Imphal.

The Agri Horti Expo & Buyer Seller meet is organized by the Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA), Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation under the sponsorship of Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, Ministry of Commerce, MOVCDNER, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Government of India and the State Government.

The expo would continue till April 30 .

Speaking at the occasion, N Biren Singh stated that the State Government, knowing the potential of the State, had been taking up various initiatives to develop horticulture products and promote organic farming.

He continued that the State could become a model State among the North East States, if the State's potential and farmers' skill are utilized suitably.

"However, we need to know the feasibility of a product in a particular region", he added.

Talking about the adverse effects of large-scale poppy cultivation on the soil and impacts of mass deforestation for poppy cultivation to the environment, the Chief Minister reiterated his Government's firm stand regarding the War on Drugs and uprooting poppy cultivation.

He also stated that the Government is ready to face any outcome during its mission to save the future generations of the State.

"I will never retract a single step even if I face multiple challenges and threats in the campaign to eradicate the drug menace from the State completely", he said.

Biren vowed that he would fight against the drug menace till his last breath. Drug smugglers are armed gangs who have no qualms in killing people, he said.

"There is a likelihood of some people targeting me politically for destroying poppy cultivations.

But I will do everything in the interest of future generations and all efforts would be invested to bring the cultivators to the mainstream", Biren said.

N Biren recalled that the Government implemented organic farming in various parts of the State with 5000 farmers covering 5000 hectares in 2016.The area covered under organic farming has been expanded to 37,900 hectares in the year 2021-22, he added.

He stated that the State had been able to tap the demand for organic products of the State outside the country and is venturing into the global market space with the sole aim of providing remunerative prices to the farmers.

Informing that organic products worth Rs 200 crore have been sold in the last six years including Rs 30 crore outside the State and about Rs 1.5 crore outside the country, he expressed hopefulness that the expo would promote and increase sale and marketing of organic products outside the country.

Stating that the Market Intervention Scheme for Horticultural Products has been launched to support farmers with assured markets for their produces and preventive measures to curb food losses in the State, the Chief Minister assured that farmers need not worry about marketing platforms for their produces as the Government has provision for buyback of their produces.

Cold storage facilities have also been set up at many places, he said.

Mentioning that the Food Processing Unit (Mag Fruit Factory) at Nilakuthi is ready for inauguration, he informed that the unit would have cold storage facility, cleaning, grading, sorting and packing facilities, specialized storage facilities etc.

The State Government is all set to introduce Advanced Drone Technology in agriculture and allied sectors for the benefit of the farming community, he further stated.

N Biren was hopeful that the State Level Agri Horti Expo for Organic & Indigenous Products would offer an interactive and competitive ecosystem of all stakeholders and provide opportunities to learn from each other for further improvement while showcasing their respective achievements and products.

Delivering his speech as the president of the programme, Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Letpao Haokip stated that the three-day event has fulfilled the cherished dream of the State and the Horticulture Department to comprehensively showcase the unique horticulture and agricultural products and create marketing linkage.

Letpao continued that the Buyer Seller Meet would create a platform for buyers from different parts of the Northeast as well as outside the region to interact with farmers' organizations and emergent entrepreneurs for coherent and long-term partnership.

After the formal inauguration programme, the Chief Minister visited stalls set up by various agencies of Agriculture and Horticulture Department, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research- NER Regional Centre, College of Agriculture (CAU), various Farmer Producer Company and Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, among others.

Chairman, Manipur Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation Khongbantabam Ibomcha, Additional Chief Secretary P Vaiphei, senior officials of North Eastern Region Agriculture Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, officials of Horticulture Department and Farmer Producer Companies also attended the programme.

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