The Mizoram government has sought assistance from the United Nations to improve horticulture in the state, officials said on Sunday.
Mizoram horticulture development board vice chairman F Lalnunmawia accompanied visited the regional office of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations.
FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security, in Bangkok last week and met FAO regional coordinator for Asia and Pacific Xiangjun Yao and other officials.
Lalnunmawia is accompanied by Mizoram Youth Commission chairman Vanlaltanpuia and state planning secretary C Lalsangzuala.
In his meeting with the FAO officials, Lalnunmawia asked the UN agency for logistic and technical support to accelerate fruits and vegetable production in Mizoram.
“Lalnunmawia also asked better cooperation from the agency to ensure that meaningful measures are taken towards the establishment of fruits and vegetables processing units and markets in Mizoram,” the officials added.
Lalnunmawia also informed the UN officials about the state flagship programme- Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP) and the government’s effort to bring its successful implementation.
Assuring of all possible help, the UN officials suggested Lalnunmawia should submit a concept paper through the Union Ministry of Agriculture and FAO office in India.
They also agreed to hold talks with the Mizoram government for better cooperation at the earliest convenient.
The SEDP is the flagship programme of the Mizoram government headed by chief minister Zoramthanga.
The policy aims at providing sustainable livelihood to all households and all-round development in the state through protection and conservation of the land, exploration as well as proper and judicious use of the resources, transparent administration and self-sufficiency in food.
The programme was launched by Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga in March 2017, one year before the MNF came to power in November 2018.