AALO, Sep 25: About 10,000 stevia saplings were distributed free of cost to selected farmers by the Stevia Biotech Pvt Ltd of New Delhi to encourage stevia cultivation in the region during a training programme organised jointly by the District Horticulture Officer Aalo, Horticulture Board and Siang Farmer Federation on Saturday last.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman and Managing Director of Stevia Biotech Pvt Ltd, Sourabh Agarwal assured that the company will be purchasing dried stevia leaves grown by farmers of the Siang region and establish an extraction unit in the state in collaboration with local partners.
He further informed that the quality planting materials which were provided to farmers were developed by the company through tissue culture and multiplied by vegetative propagation, which has more than 13 percent of Steviol Glycoside with high Rebaodioside content.
He further said that the nursery for the sapling supply will be established in different parts of Arunachal to provide company’s proprietary stevia saplings at lowest price possible to the farmers for contract cultivation.
Later, the Siang Farmer Federation signed an agreement with Stevia Biotech Pvt Ltd to organise and monitor different farmer groups in the region.
The programme was attended by Director Horticulture Board Arunachal Pradesh, Kamo Ado, EA Commissioner Administrative, Henkir Lollen, former Minister, Doi Ado, President of Siang Farmer Federation, K Lona, Aalo DHO, Nyili Lomi General Secretary SFF, Project Head Priyankar Sharma and over 40 progressive farmers. (DIRPO)
