Israeli experts to teach orange farming in Mizoram

AIZAWL: Israeli horticulture experts would teach hybrid orange cultivation to farmers in Mizoram, government officials said here.

Mizoram's small farmer's consortium had recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Israel Corporation of Agriculture Application in this regard, state joint secretary for horticulture H Darzikatold newspersons here today.

"The Centre had sanctioned Rs 60 lakh under Horticulture Technology Mission for the purpose," he said.

Orange cultivators in Mizoram are not able to get a high yield and state government had been trying to find an alternative for the farmers.

Darzika said that Israelis used grafting method in growing oranges and the oranges were hi-bred varieties which produces fruits within three years and lasted best for 20 years after which they were replaced with new ones.

"They do not plant oprganges on the ground but used grafting method and frow them on other trees", he said, adding the method would first be introduced in the state.

The experiment would be conducted at the state horticultural farm at Chite here, he said.