Sonowal favours biotechnological interventions for enhanced production in organic sector

The new initiative would facilitate faster penetration of biotech industry and to accelerate the research and development activities in biotechnology and related fields with effective utilization of the rich natural resources of this region and to educate and utilize local human resources.

“We have inherent skills in organic farming. Assam and northeast are rich in natural resources and its biodiversity holds potential to capture the markets of entire south east Asia through concentration in the organic sector. Biotechnological interventions can immensely help us in becoming an organic hub,” Sarbananda Sonowal said this while speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony.

Stating that the traditional cultivation skills and farm processing techniques of the region are required to be modernized to increase productivity and income generation, Sonowal observed that a judicious mix of biotechnological know-how and conventional farming would immensely gear up the agro-based industry in the state.

Further to create a scientific ecosystem in the region, the Assam CM urged the students and the youth to build scientific mentality and take benefit of science and technological initiatives of the government towards the skill development as well as entrepreneurship development utilizing the facilities of Guwahati Biotech Park and the rich bio-resources of the region.

“Science and technology is going to be the way of life in the days to come and no one would be able to prosper without taking its advantages. This is a golden opportunity for our youth and I call upon you to reap maximum benefit from the Guwahati Biotech Park and contribute in the economic growth of the state,” Sonowal quipped.

The Assam CM also outlined his vision for making Guwahati as the gateway to south east Asia and various initiatives mooted for materializing the same including execution of state capital region expanding the radius of Guwahati city and proposed World Trade Centre in Guwahati.

Science and Technology Minister Keshav Mahanta while delivering his speech informed that already an area measuring 64 bighas of land has been earmarked for setting up permanent campus of Guwahati Biotech Park at Amingaon, which will be a unique centre in the entire north east. An amount of Rs 35 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of Technology Incubation Centre and work for the same is expected to complete in 2019.

Mahanta stated that the Guwahati Biotech park would support from incubation to business and will develop exclusive Business and Industrial Zones and added that this will benefit college as well as university students for research alongwith business.

The Science and Technology Minister also spoke about ongoing projects of the department, which include setting up of District Science Centres, planetariums for generating scientific environment.

Further informing that state government would soon start construction of a Science City at Sonapur, Mahanta stated about organizing Science fairs and lunching of ‘Mukhyamantrir Bigyan Darshan’ for common people in the state.

“These initiatives would bring about a paradigm shift in the science and technology sector in the next few years in the state,” Mahanta said.

Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarman and Director of IIT, Guwahati Professor Gautam Biswas also spoke on the occasion. Additional Chief Secretary, Science & Technology Department Rajib Kumar Bora delivered the welcome address.

Legal Adviser to Chief Minister Santanu Bharali, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, MLAs Suman Haripriya and Nandita Das, DC Kamrup who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Guwahati Biotech Park Vinod Seshan and host of other dignitaries were present in the programme.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)