July 8, 2020
A programme which will be on trial initially for three years, will be totally funded by central government under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture to grow domestically grow exotic fruits to reduce imports.
The Central Govt of India gives a thought to introduce exotic varieties of fruits like apples, almonds, date palm, and walnuts on Indian soil by importing seeds and saplings to help local farmers and fruit producers and reduce the pressure on imports.
“These fruits originate in other countries but we consume in large quantities here. We have been growing these fruits but quality is a little inferior,” a horticulture department official said. “So, the government has decided to import original planting material to promote cultivation of exotic varieties.”
He said that states have been asked to furnish demand of planting materials that farmers want to grow. “State-owned National Seeds Corporation has been appointed as the nodal agency, which will import seeds, saplings and rootlets for further propagation in India. We have received demand from Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir. Private companies have been importing at individual level but government will import planting material for the first time,” he said.
A programme which will be on trial initially for three years, will be totally funded by central government under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture to grow domestically grow exotic fruits to reduce imports.