Shri Lok Nath Sharma, Honourable Minister, Department of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Information & Public Relations, Printing and Stationery Departments, Government of Sikkim along with Shri Bhim Lal Dahal, Additional Director, Horticulture visited CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, on 17-18 February 2022.

During the visit, Shri Lok Nath Sharma appreciated the contribution made by the institute through the development of high-end research-based technologies and their deployment for boosting the rural economy. He showed keen interest in establishing a CSIR-IHBT centre in Sikkim for fast deployment of relevant technologies, training and skill development to strengthen ongoing development programmes for the benefit of the people of Sikkim. 

Besides Heeng, Saffron, Monk Fruit and Cinnamon introduction, he lauded the efforts of CSIR-IHBT for initiating the cultivation of pearl integrated with aquaculture. Honourable Minister also said that his visit to CSIR-IHBT will further strengthen the cooperation on various aspects including hydroponics and aeroponics, cultivation of asafoetida, saffron, aromatic and medicinal plants, floriculture and food processing that help in capacity building among farmers, unemployed youth and entrepreneurship development.

He also talked about the success of schemes like 'Mukhyamantri Krishi Atmanirbhar Yojana', 'Mukhyamantri Pashudhan Samridhi Yojana' and ‘Mukhya Mantri Matsya Utpadan Yojana' reforming the lives of the common man and making Sikkim the first organic state of the nation. Honourable Minister also visited fields and facilities like food processing, pilot-scale herbal processing, aeroponics and hydroponics technologies developed at the institute.

Dr Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSIR-IHBT, presented the major achievements and research activities of the institute. He said that the institute is playing a significant role through judicious utilisation of available resources like cultivating and processing aromatic crops like wild marigold, damask rose, lemongrass, etc. enabling self-reliance among farmers with increased income. 

He further said CSIR-IHBT is closely working with North-East states by developing clusters for the production of vitamin D2 enriched shiitake mushroom and vermicomposting under Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), anaerobic Biogas plant installation through the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Waste Management Technologies (WMT) and establishment of essential oil processing unit under the CSIR Aroma mission. Dr Kumar informed that CSIR-IHBT has initiated research and development activity on pearl culture utilising fresh water mussels to promote its cultivation through trainings & skill development and facilitate farmers, entrepreneurs/startups in this high income-generating venture.

During the visit of Honourable Minister, CSIR-IHBT and Department of Horticulture, the Government of Sikkim signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 18 February 2022. The main purpose of this MoU is to create more high revenue-generating livelihood options for the people of Sikkim and rural development deploying technologies developed at CSIR-IHBT.