SUMMARY OF NE BUSINESS SUMMIT 2008

The 4^th North Eastern Business Summit 2008 held at Guwahati, (15- 16 September, 2008) was Participated by the Horticulture & Soil Conservation Department, Manipur. In connection with the Summit a Booklet “ A Glimpse into few Crops of Horticulture” and a film of 11 Minutes on “Prospects of Horticulture in Manipur” were produced and distributed to participating delegates in  the Summit.

Four Officials of the Department and Fourteen Pvt. Entrepreneurs have been nominated by the Government. The Official Team and Pvt. Entrepreneurs were headed by Shri. V. Vumlunmang, IAS, Secretary Horticulture & S.C, Government of Manipur.

Horticultural produces and Posters were also displayed in the State Stall, at Exhibition Centre. Displayed items were, Pineapple, Organic Ginger, Turmeric, U-Morok (Capsicum frutescence), dried Shiitake, Oranges and Kachai Lemon. Many delegates showed their interest in promoting these produces. Among the important visitors, Shri Mani Shanker Aiyar, Minister DoNER, paid his kind visit in the Stall, on 17 September 2008. He was kind enough encouraging the Private Entrepreneurs.

Out of the Sessions of Summit, North East: Advantage Agro & Food processing (Concurrent Session 3), Chaired by Shri Subodh Kant Sahay, Minister of State and Food Processing was given importance by this Department. Shri V. Vumlunmang, IAS, Secretary, Horticulture & S.C, and Manipur represented the Department with a 10 Minutes Briefing on Potential & Prospects of Horticulture Produces of Manipur. He invited Genuine Investors/ Buyers form Public and Pvt. Sectors of the South East Asia for sharing to explore the potentiality of major horticulture produces of the State.

Pineapple Growers of the State have a brighter future as an Exporter in the Investment Hub showed his interest on pineapple of Manipur for a joint venture business. A meeting among representatives of Pineapple Growers of the State and the Export Company has agreed to proceed on the business line.

The overall gain from this Summit was information on Opportunities and building confidence on Farming activities with a Vision. The Summit had created more enthusiasm to the Pvt. Entrepreneurs for industrialization of Farming activities with enhanced Quantity and Quality Produces.

The Centrally Sponsored Scheme "Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture for NE States" was launched from the year 2001-02 under the Prime Minister Special Package Programme. The Scheme is based on the end-to-end approach taking into account the entire gamut of horticulture development, with all backward and forward linkages, in a holistic manner. After the launching of the Scheme, it has created awareness in the farming community about the importance of horticulture in improving their livelihood opportunity. The distribution function was a part of whole activities to bring horticulture from backward activities to commercialization. The department had already two functions for distribution of power tillers and pumps. Without a formal function also, the farmers are getting the  same benefits of subsidy for purchase of the said agricultural tools from time to time since inception of the programme of Technology Mission  in Manipur. In Mini Mission-II of there are as many as 17 major components. From these components, Area Expansion programme for both fruits & vegetables are important  for development of Horticulture for commercialization.  Distribution of winter vegetable seeds come under this programme of Area Expansion. Moreover, Promotion and Popularization of Agricultural Equipments is one of the major components under Mini Mission-II of Technology Mission and distribution of Power Tillers, Water Pump Sets and Sprayers comes under this component. The incentives given under the component are Rs. 45,000/-(Rupees Forty-five Thousand) for Power Tillers & Rs.9,000/-(Rupees Nine Thousand) only for Diesel Water Pump Sets. Interested farmers can apply for taking the advantages to the Director of Horticulture & Soil Conservation, Manipur at Sanjenthong through their concerned District Officers.

Distribution function of Agriculture Equipments/Horticultural inputs under Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture was held on 4th October, 2008 at 1st Battalion Manipur Riffles Parade ground, Imphal. In connection with this function 34 nos. of Power Tiller, 18 nos. of Diesel Water Pump Sets and 150 nos. of Bee boxes  were distributed to the selected beneficiaries/farmers coming from all the districts of Manipur. Not only these, winter vegetable seeds (Cabbage, Cauliflower, Tomato, Onion, Pea and Capsicum) were also distributed to all nine districts of Manipur. The quantities of seeds distributed are - Cabbage seeds - 290 kgs. , Cauliflower seeds - 83 kgs, Tomato seeds - 52.75 kgs., Onion seeds - 965 kgs., Pea seeds - 60,000 kgs. and Capsicum seed - 59 kgs.

Technology Mission Cell of The Department of Horticulture & Soil Conservation, Manipur participated in the 4^th International Flora Expo-2008 held from 26-28 September 2008 at NSIC Complex, Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi, organised by Media Today Pvt. Ltd. in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India.

Disclaimer: Designed, Developed and Hosted by NIC, Manipur State Centre, Information provided by Department of Horticulture & Soil Conservation,
Government of Manipur    E-mail: manipur-tm@mail.nic.in