City nursery gets one star rating from Centre

OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI, May 14: The Central Institute of Horticulture, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Union Ministry of Agriculture has given accreditation and one star rating to the Model Horticulture Nursery of the Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing, Assam, located at Byrnihat on the city outskirts, a press release said.

This is the first and only government nursery, which has been awarded such accreditation and rating. This recognition is given on the basis of evaluation made by an expert committee of the Government of India.

There are several Mother Plants of Litchi (seedless, bombai & elachi), citrus (Assam lemon, round lemon, mousambi & mandarin), guava (Lalit & L-49) and mango (Amrapali) grown in the said nursery, from where high quality planting materials will be produced for distribution among the farmers of the State.

“Nursery is consequently the basic need of horticulture. Plant propagation techniques and practices is the core of horticulture nurseries. The planting materials for horticultural plantations are raised from seeds and vegetative parts,” said Mowsam Hazarika, Assistant Director of Agriculture (Horticulture) of State Horticulture & Food Processing department.

“The role of mother plants is very primary and important. A Mother plant is a plant grown for the purpose of taking cuttings or offsets in order to grow more quantity of the same plant. The fate of nursery depends on quality and truthfulness of mother plants. Mother plants are required for both stock and scion,” he said.  Hazarika added that mother plants should be selected on the basis of its genetic traits and other factors like availability and adaptation in the growing environment.