ITANAGAR : In a significant boost to Arunachal Pradesh’s horticulture sector, the Department of Horticulture signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, on Thursday to promote scientific collaboration, technology transfer and sustainable horticultural development.
The MoU was signed and exchanged between Director of Horticulture Tobom Bam and CSIR-IHBT Director Dr Sudesh Kumar Yadav in the presence of Horticulture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu, Horticulture Secretary Koj Rinya and senior officials from both sides.
The programme began with a presentation by CSIR-IHBT Principal Scientist Dr Bhavya Bhargava, who highlighted the institute’s achievements and ongoing work in Himalayan horticulture, floriculture, medicinal and aromatic plants, bio-resource management and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Yadav underscored the vast scope for collaboration between CSIR-IHBT and Arunachal Pradesh and reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to providing scientific and technical support for the state’s horticultural development.
Speaking on the occasion, Wangsu stressed that the agreement must translate into tangible outcomes rather than remain a mere formality.
“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 falter during implementation and urged both sides to ensure professional execution and timely completion of all activities under the partnership.
“Every step and every action taken under this partnership should be beneficial to our state. The entire process must be carried out professionally,” he said.
Highlighting the similarities in the agro-climatic conditions of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh, Wangsu said the institute’s expertise would be highly relevant to the state’s developmental goals. He also called for expanding cooperation beyond floriculture to include 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,” he added.
Assuring full government support, Wangsu directed departmental officers to extend all necessary cooperation for the successful implementation of the partnership and expressed confidence that the collaboration would benefit both the state and the country.
Horticulture Secretary Koj Rinya described the MoU as a step towards science-driven growth in the sector and expressed optimism about its long-term impact. She noted that the partnership builds on the success of an advanced floriculture training programme conducted in January this year with technical support from CSIR-IHBT scientists.
According to Rinya, the agreement seeks to institutionalise cooperation in areas such as technology transfer, capacity building, research collaboration, value addition, sustainable resource management and market-oriented horticultural development.
The ceremony concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to building a robust, innovative and sustainable horticulture ecosystem in Arunachal Pradesh.
