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Meghalaya to set up two agricultural centres

By Staff Correspondent - 15 Sep 2010 12:00 AM GMT

SHILLONG, Nov 3 - Meghalaya will set up two Centres of Excellence (CoEs) with Israel�s know-how, focusing on high-value vegetables and citrus fruits. The two centres will be established at Jongksha village in East Khasi Hills district for high-value vegetables and Dawagre, East Garo Hills, for citrus fruits. Each CoE will cost an estimated Rs 10 crore.

Discussions to develop these centres are at an advanced stage with the Central Government. The process has been expedited after Chief Minister Conrad Sangma held talks with the Ambassador of Israel to India, Dr Ron Malka, here today. �We are hopeful that these proposals for setting up the CoEs will move forward after this discussion and dialogue with the Israeli delegation. We are expecting to complete the entire process at the earliest,� Sangma said after his meeting.

The CoE is important for tapping the diverse biodiversity and available resources in the State in terms of its soil and agro-climatic conditions. Sangma said the State has not been able to get maximum benefits and profits for farmers due to lack of technology and research.

Stating that the Israeli technology will assist in ensuring that farmers of the State enhance productivity and earnings, the Chief Minister said technology plays an important role in agriculture and horticulture.

On the other hand, Dr Malka said that there are 29 CoEs under agriculture all over India. �In these centres, we bring our latest technology, practices and advance system that we use for advanced agriculture and water management, �he said.

The Israeli Ambassador said that Meghalaya would be a part of the family of States which are together in the Indo-Israeli agriculture project. Underlining Meghalaya�s agricultural potential as huge, Dr Malka said Israel would help create new kinds of crops and cultivation through the CoEs.

Israel will also assist the farmers to market their produce, the Israeli diplomat added. �This is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi�s vision to double the income of farmers,� Dr Malka said.