Pranjit Deka, resident chief executive, Oil India Limited and advisor, OIRDS inaugurated a ‘Model Commercial Nursery’ under OIL CSR in eastern Assam’s Dibrugarh district on Friday.
The model commercial nursery was inaugurated at Amguri Nepali Gaon, Tingri in the district.
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The model commercial nursery’ was inaugurated in presence of Dr Mrinal Saikia, associate director of research, AAU, Rajib Sarma; ED (Basin Manager-Shelf), OIL, R K Barooh; CGM (Instrumentation) & president OIRDS, D K Bhuyan; GM- PA & vice president, OIRDS, N K Sharma; GM-PSS & secretary, OIRDS along with other officials of OIL & AAU and general public.
As a part of the ‘Augmentation of Agriculture through Efficient Resource Utilization with Participatory Approach’, this project has been initiated by Oil India Rural Development Society (OIRDS), under the aegis of Oil India Limited and implemented with the technical support from Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat.
Speaking on the occasion, Pranjit Deka, RCE, OIL & advisor, OIRDS emphasized OIL’s commitment towards development of socio-economic condition of the rural populace in an around its operational areas as a part of CSR initiative taken by the company.
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He expressed his gratitude towards the people of operational areas for extending their support and cooperation in implementing the project.
The project on ‘Augmentation of Agriculture through Efficient Resource Utilization with Participatory Approach’ has been designed to execute through large-scale demonstration training and other necessary extension interventions among the selected beneficiaries in an around operational areas of OIL India Ltd.
To implement this, Assam Agricultural University was identified as the implementing partner to carry forward the project namely in Khordoiguri, Khowang, Amguri NepaliGaon, Genichuk, Rohmoria, Hatkhola and Chabua area.
A total of four broad areas are undertaken in this program namely – agriculture for improving farm Income, integrated farming system to build on farmers’ practice, elite planting material generation of horticultural crops and organic farming.
The primary objective of this project is to facilitate agriculture-centric livelihood and economic empowerment of the rural people by developing economic activities spreading linkage model among the farmers for efficient utilization and conservation of resources for escalating farm income and build capacity in different aspects of modern agriculture.
In this regard, an MOU was signed between OIRDS & Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat in the year 2017 and the project will be completed in four years’ time with a total financial involvement of approximately Rs 1.65 crore.
During the initial survey it was found that there has been a tremendous need and increasing demand of horticultural crops in this part of the country.
Although there has been a traditional approach of horticultural crops in the past, the commercial horticulture has been stated recently in Assam.
It is noteworthy to mention here that Assam is blessed with a diversity of Agro climatic conditions prevailing in different part of the State.
A wide range of climatic conditions ensures that it is ideally suited to produce almost all the horticultural crops.
To add to it, the liberalization of economy has given an impetus to the Indian entrepreneur for establishing export-oriented horticulture too.
However, there was a shortage of procurement of quality and sufficient planting material of Horticultural crops.
By creating this commercial nursery with the help of modern infrastructure and technology couple of ‘mother blocks’ for production of prominent horticultural crops has been made.
This modern nursery is equipped with production and maintenance of mother stocks for large-scale production of quality planting material, multiplication of elite clones and supply of seedlings and planting materials to the customers.
Presently 16 varieties of high yielding fruits and herbs & mediational plants are produced in the nursery.
In addition to this, a wide range of indigenous as well as exported orchids are also under production apart from 11 varieties of seasonal flowers in this nursery.
A commercial network has also been established to sale these products to various customers across the State.