State Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi, who is on a tour to Australia, is heading a delegation to study modern technology for growing fruit plants on a large scale.
Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Minister, Jagat Singh Negi (File Photo)
Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the state government is contemplating bringing Australian technologies for plant health.
The state government intends to adopt high-quality fruit plants to be cultivated by adopting modern technology for better plant health and productivity, he added.
Negi, who is on a tour to Australia, is heading a delegation to study modern technology for growing fruit plants on a large scale in the state and is accompanied by Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mohan Lal Brakta, Horticulture Director, Sandeep Kadam.
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He said at present, most of the fruit plants in the state were brought up through traditional methods besides being imported from other parts of the country.
In the absence of modern technology, plants are susceptible to many diseases, he added.
Taking this into consideration, the team would study the modern techniques being adopted for plant health management in Australia such as screening, testing, cleaning, and maintenance of exotic plants and other latest methodologies which will help the horticulturists to enhance their income.
Discussions were also scheduled with the Chief Plant Health Officer of the State of Victoria and the Strawberry Industry Certification Authority (VSICA).
The delegation is likely to visit and discuss the nursery registration program at Elizabeth Agricultural Institute laboratories in Sydney and at the state-of-the-art fruit nurseries.
Negi said that this tour would help in bringing Australian technology to Himachal Pradesh and the horticulturists of the state will also be able to establish modern laboratories to prepare high-quality plants.
The tour is being run by ADB in collaboration with the Government of India under the Healthy Plant Program.
The team of the Asian Development Bank and the senior officers of the Union Ministry of Agriculture are also participating in the tour.
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