Asem Bhakta, Special Correspondent North East
Guwahati: Focus on increasing citrus in Northeast with UpToDate technology and aggressive policy A National Workshop on “Revitalizing Citriculture in North-east India: Addressing Challenges, Exploring Technological Solutions and Formulating Future Strategies” was held on 3rd-4th October 2024 at NEDFi Auditorium, Guwahati, Assam which is Organized by Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Citrus Research Institute (CAR-CCRI), Nagpur; ICAR-ATARI (Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute), Guwahati and ICAR-ATARI, Meghalaya. Tohe National Workshop aims to address some critical issues relating to challenges to Citrus cultivation, with a special focus on citrus decline. By bringing together experts from across the nation and all relevant stakeholders in the region, the workshop seeks to facilitate knowledge exchange, explore technological solutions, and develop a roadmap for revitalizing the citrus sector in North-east India. The objectives of the workshop are to identify the statespecific challenges of citrus sector in North-east India, to explore technological solutions for sustainable citriculture in the region., to formulate a comprehensive action plan for revitalizing the citrus sector in North-eastern region with involvement from all relevant stakeholders. On the inaugural session of the workshop on Thursday the Director of the ICARATARI, Guwahati DR. G. Kadirvel said in his welcome address that this national seminar will address the citriculture declining issue in Northeast. Dr. Dilip Ghosh, Director ICAR-CCRI in his keynote address outlined the focal points of the workshop. In this workshop Dr. Anupam Mishra, Vice-Chancellor, CAU, Imphal, K. Dabdutta, Director, Horticulture and Soil Conservation, and Chungong Pamei, Project Director, MIDH are representing Manipur. Vote of Thanks was given by Dr. S.S.Roy ,Principle Scientist, ICAR-CCRI and Co-organizing Secretary On the day two of the National Workshop on Citriculture in Northeast discussions were held on increasing the availability of Diseases Free Planting Material Production of Citrus, technological options for production and rejuvenation of citrus, Promotion of post-harvest management of citrus and Citripreneurship development and policy and schemes requirement for development of citrus sector in Northeast. Dr.V.K Mishra, Director ICAR research complex for NE Region, Meghalaya was the Chief Guest in the valedictory function on September 4.
