ITANAGAR, Jun 4: In a “booster” to State’s horticulture sector, the Department of Horticulture (GoAP), today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR–Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, aimed at fostering scientific collaboration, technology transfer and sustainable horticultural development.
The MoU was signed and exchanged between Tobom Bam, Director Horticulture (GoAP) and Dr Sudesh Kumar Yadav, Director CSIR-IHBT, in presence of Horticulture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu, Secretary Horticulture Koj Rinya, senior officials of the department and members of the CSIR-IHBT delegation.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister emphasized that the agreement should not remain a mere formality but must translate into measurable outcomes for the state. “This is not just an MoU. Hopefully, it will do wonders in the future. Along with an action plan, clear timelines must also be fixed,” he said.
The Minister observed that many initiatives fail at the stage of implementation and culmination, stressing that the present collaboration should be different. “Every step and every action taken under this partnership should be beneficial to our state. The entire process must be carried out professionally,” he stated.
Highlighting the similarities between the agro-climatic conditions of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh, Wangsu noted that the expertise of CSIR-IHBT would be highly relevant to the State’s developmental aspirations. He further urged both sides to explore collaborations beyond floriculture, including high-value fruits and vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, and other bio-resource sectors.
“The bio-resource sector holds immense potential, and together we can contribute significantly not only to the development of Arunachal Pradesh but also to the nation. We have a long way to go with this collaboration,” the Minister remarked.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, Wangsu assured full support for the successful implementation of the partnership and directed departmental officers to extend all necessary cooperation whenever required by the institute. He expressed confidence that the collaboration would ultimately benefit both the state and the country as a whole.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Yadav underscored the vast potential for collaboration between CSIR-IHBT and Arunachal Pradesh, emphasizing the institute’s commitment to extending scientific and technical support for sustainable horticultural development in the state.
The Secretary expressed optimism about the long-term impact of the partnership, stating that while the State still has considerable ground to cover in horticultural development, the collaboration with CSIR-IHBT could emerge as a model for science-driven growth in the sector.
Earlier, the programme commenced with a detailed presentation by Dr Bhavya Bhargava, Principal Scientist, CSIR-IHBT.