GANGTOK, June 8 � Sikkim Science & Technology Minister Bhim Dhungel said that the State Government is giving priority for cluster development in horticulture sector.
�We are selecting groups of more than 10 farmers in a particular area for giving them training and subsidies as per the cluster development strategy. This will facilitate easy follow up action where the farmers will be benefiting. The focus is maximum production from the farms through scientific farming�, said the Minister while inaugurating a training workshop on citrus cultivation here recently.
The workshop was organised by Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology in collaboration with ICAR Sikkim centre.
Twenty nine farmers from Shreebadam and Taksang-Kaijaley attended the training and also received free quality saplings of citrus trees.
We have selected farmers from Shreebadam and Taksang-Kaijaley as per the cluster development programme, informed Dhungel and also called upon the farmers of these areas to give leadership to the State in orange cultivation.
The Minister added that the State Government and national agencies like ICAR are fully behind the farmers by providing them technical support, high quality saplings and other subsidies for maximum yield.
State Science & Technology secretary ML Arrawatia called upon the farmers to take benefits from the schemes of the State and Centre and create success stories.
State Horticulture Director KK Singh pointed out that oranges are one of the main cash crops of Sikkim. The production of oranges has dropped but farmers who are serious have not suffered low production. Dr H Rahman spoke about orange cultivation of Sikkim during the workshop, while Dr BC Basista coordinated the workshop.
