Plant Tissue Culture Centre At Uchani, Karnal

Chandigarh, June 10 – Haryana Horticulture Department has decided tostart a Horticulture Bio-Technology Centre near Horticulture TrainingCentre, Uchani at Karnal at a cost of Rs. 10 lakh to produce tissueCulture Plants.While stating this here today, the Agriculture Minister, Mr.Harmohinder Singh Chatha said that the Centre would be set up to keeppace with the modern science. Horticulture Bio-Technology Centre wouldproduce Tissue Culture of horticulture crops of Banana, Patato Microtubers, cutting of flowers crops and other horticultural crops. Planttissue culture which was a useful tool for the rapid production ofmany genetically identical plants using relatively small amounts ofspace, supplies and time would be extensively used for giving a majorfillip to horticultural activities in the state. The Centre would alsocater to introduce the concept of DNA finger printing and popularizingthe virus indexing technology.The Minister said that the Department would also spend a sum of Rs. 92lakh for popularization and extension of latest technologies inHorticulture. Shows, Seminars and Field Days would be organized atgovernment garden and nurseries and farmers' fields in each districtthroughout the state to create awareness about latest technologies andmotivate farmers to adopt these practices in the cultivation of theirhorticultural crops. Training and visit of Field Staff and the farmerswould also be organized within and outside the state. Furthermoreproduction of quality planting material by bio technology especiallythrough Tissue culture would be given impetus. Similarly, good plantsand seed varieties would be popularized through selling atsubsidized rates, he added.Mr. Chatha said that subsidy of Rs. 25500 per unit would be given forestablishing new mushroom units under the scheme for MushroomDevelopment in Haryana State and budget provision of Rs. 35 lakh hadbeen earmarked for the current financial year for the purpose. Thescheme was being implemented in the non National HorticultureMission(NHM) districts where mushroom cultivation was not taken underNHM. Assistance would also be given on mushroom trays in existingunits at a rate of Rs. 60 per tray and 250 trays each farmer. Asubsidy of Rs. 75000 per unit which was 25 per cent would also begiven as assistance on pasturised compost units.He said that a sum of Rs. 34 lakh had also been earmarked for thedevelopment and promotion of Organic Farming in Horticulture whichwould be spent in Non-NHM districts. Assistance on area adoption underorganic farming and on vermi compost unit would be provided.