AIZAWL, Sept 20 NNN: With the initiative of Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked yesterday for Comprehensive Rubber Based Settlement Project in Mizoram.
The MoU was signed between Rubber Production Commissioner (Retd.), Trivandrum, Kerala (Consultant) and Mizoram Governemnt (Soil & Water Conservation Department).
Official sources said that the project is an undertaking with the fund of state government flagship programme New Land Use Policy (NLUP), and the project is planned to be completed within three months’ time from the date of the signing of the MoU.
As and when DPR is finalized, search will begin for the funding source, and for the same World Bank assistance is also expected, sources said, adding that as per plan 50,000 ha. will be covered within 20 years starting with the coverage of about 2500 ha. per year at the initial stage.
Mention has also been made that mapping on the extent of cultivable land for rubber plantation in Mizoram is being done through MIRSAC.
In order to bring self-sufficiency in rubber seedlings, the Soil & Water Conservation Department has also since 2010 begun to set up Budwood Nursery and Seedling Nursery at 6 different places through NLUP, and the result of the same is expected to be seen in 2014.
As of now, under the NLUP, 1448 families are engaged in rubber plantation and trade, and the beneficiaries have received high quality rubber seedlings called RRIM.
Through NABARD loan, the mentioned nurseries are to be improvised and the plan is also on to set up four new nurseries .
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/rubber-project-to-be-taken-up-at-mizoram/
