Biotechnology centre for Arunachal tribals to create new growth avenues in Northeast

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<strong>In yet another step towards development of India's Northeast, a new biotechnology centre for the tribals in remote area of Kimin in Arunachal Pradesh was inaugurated by the Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh today.</strong></p>
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The centre will greatly help in improving the socio-economic status of tribal people in the state and aims at conservation and sustainable utilization of the local bio-resources using biotechnological tools. It is supported by the Science and Technology ministry's Department of Biotechnology.</p>
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Singh said that throughout the region, significant steps have been taken in areas like agriculture, hydel-power, infrastructure, tourism, information and communication technology in the last seven years. </p>
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Special emphasis has also been laid on creating new avenues of growth through the development of vertically integrated food processing chains, marketing the skill development and cross-border trade.</p>
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The minister underlined that the biotechnology department has played a pivotal role to build capacity in the region for carrying out biotechnology research to address issues specific to the region and implement programmes for the societal upliftment of the local communities.</p>
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The Centre for Bioresources and Sustainable Development at Kimin in the Papum Pare district of the state has also established academic linkages with several ICAR, CSIR Institutions, for efficient implementation of these programmes.</p>
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The facilities for the implementation of these programmes will be established in four districts of Arunachal Pradesh covering over 50 villages and benefit over 10,000 farmers in the next two years.</p>
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He also revealed that the Centre is focusing on the implementation of three major programmes for benefit of the region.</p>
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The first is a state-of-the-art Orchidarium in the main centre at Kiminfor conservation and multiplication of priority orchid species along with establishing satellite units in selected districts of Arunachal Pradesh.</p>
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The second programme focuses on establishment of banana fibre extraction and processing units in selected districts of Arunachal Pradesh.</p>
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The third and final project is establishment of an aroma unit for promotion of cultivation of aromatic crops and entrepreneurship development.</p>
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The minister also dedicated DBT-funded Skill Vigyan Programme in Biotechnology to the state of Arunachal Pradesh during the event.</p>
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