In a step towards strengthening Arunachal Pradesh's horticulture sector, the Department of Horticulture, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR–Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT). The partnership aims to promote scientific collaboration, technology transfer and sustainable development across horticulture, floriculture and allied bio-resource sectors in the state.
The MoU was formally signed and exchanged between Tobom Bam, Director of Horticulture, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, and Dr. Sudesh Kumar Yadav, Director of CSIR-IHBT, in the presence of Horticulture Minister Gabriel D. Wangsu, Secretary (Horticulture) Koj Rinya, senior departmental officials and members of the CSIR-IHBT delegation.
The programme began with a comprehensive presentation by Dr. Bhavya Bhargava, Principal Scientist at CSIR-IHBT, who highlighted the institute's achievements, ongoing research initiatives and technological interventions in Himalayan horticulture, floriculture, medicinal and aromatic plants, bio-resource management and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sudesh Kumar Yadav underscored the immense scope for collaboration between CSIR-IHBT and Arunachal Pradesh. He reiterated the institute's commitment to providing scientific and technical support to enhance sustainable horticultural development and unlock the state's vast agricultural potential.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Wangsu stressed that the agreement must go beyond a ceremonial understanding and deliver tangible benefits to the people of the state. "This is not just an MoU. Hopefully, it will do wonders in the future. Along with an action plan, clear timelines must also be fixed," he said.
The Minister observed that many initiatives often fall short during implementation and execution, and emphasized that this partnership should be guided by accountability and professionalism. "Every step and every action taken under this partnership should be beneficial to our state. The entire process must be carried out professionally," he stated.
Highlighting the similarities in the agro-climatic conditions of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh, Wangsu noted that the expertise and experience of CSIR-IHBT would be highly relevant to the state's development goals. He urged both sides to broaden the scope of cooperation beyond floriculture to include high-value fruits and vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, and other promising bio-resource sectors.
"The bio-resource sector holds immense potential, and together we can contribute significantly not only to the development of Arunachal Pradesh but also to the nation. We have a long way to go with this collaboration," the Minister remarked.
Reaffirming the state government's commitment to the initiative, Wangsu assured full support for the effective implementation of the partnership and directed departmental officers to extend all necessary cooperation to the institute. He expressed confidence that the collaboration would generate long-term benefits for both Arunachal Pradesh and the country.
Secretary (Horticulture) Koj Rinya (IFS) also expressed optimism about the partnership's long-term impact, stating that while the state still has considerable ground to cover in horticultural development, the collaboration with CSIR-IHBT has the potential to become a model for science-driven growth and innovation in the sector.
Reflecting on the evolution of the partnership, she recalled the advanced floriculture training programme conducted in January this year with technical support from CSIR-IHBT scientists. The success of that initiative, she noted, laid the foundation for the present MoU, which seeks to institutionalize and expand cooperation in areas such as technology transfer, capacity building, research collaboration, value addition, sustainable resource management and market-oriented horticultural development.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks and a shared commitment from both the Department of Horticulture and CSIR-IHBT to work together towards building a robust, innovative and sustainable horticulture ecosystem in Arunachal Pradesh.
Source: www.floraldaily.com