Horticulture mini mission for NE ready: Chaoba

IMPHAL, April 30: Union Minister of State for Food Processing Thounaojam Chaoba today stated that a horticulture mini mission for the Northeast region is ready to be set up in the state. The five-year mini mission will be divided into four phases. The first three phases will cover the cultivation of fruits right to the plucking season while the final stage will involve works taken up for processing the produce. The mission may entail a total cost of Rs 250 crore, informed the minister. Chaoba further said that the prime minister will be invited to inaugurate the mini mission. He expressed full confidence the Union Horticulture Minister Nitish Kumar will extend his fullest co-operation to the setting up of the mission as a Samata party led coalition government is in power in the State. Nitish Kumar is a senior central leader of the Samata Party. Pointing out that since the Northeast region has a mountainous region, only horticulture is the viable option to better the economy of the region. If the mission is taken up successfully then it will go a long way in easing the unemployment problems, said Chaoba.