Institute proposed to assist Litchi and Mango cultivators

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 28: The Malda additional district magistrate (development) Ms Indrani Saha has prepared a project estimating nearly Rs 10 crore to promote mango and litchi in Malda district under the Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojona (RKVY). The district administration would send the proposed project to the Centre to seek funds. The decision for the project was taken after receipt of a Rs 1.1 crore fund from the RKVY for setting up a horticulture institute in the district to provide technical assistance to the farmers. The institute would also forecast disease and provide training to tackle it. According to the Mango development officer in Malda, the horticulture institute would be set up at Gour Road in English Bazaar town. “Malda is the only district to have received funds for such an institute,” said the MDO Mr Samraendranath Khara. Today, the additional district magistrate (development) Ms Indrani Saha held a meeting and finalised a project to set up a cargo complex at Mahadipur, close to the land customs station, for export to Bangladesh. The district officials have estimated a Rs 4 crore expenditure for a proposed mango vapor heat treatment plant for export to the US and Japan. Export promotion centres for mango and litchi are included in the project. Export promotion centres would also be set up in the mango and litchi growing blocks, the mango development officer said.