DHENKANAL: Odisha's biggest tissue culture laboratory, set up with assistance of the National Horticulture Mission, was inaugurated near Gajmara village of Sadar block in Dhenkanal district on Friday.
The lab would produce 50 lakh banana saplings per annum that would be sold to farmers and Agriculture department besides, agencies outside the State.
An Israel-based farm agency, Ginosar Agro, will provide the technical know-how to the lab to grow banana saplings under shed net farming technique over an area of six acres of land. Under this technique, the saplings will be unaffected by harmful ultraviolet rays, said BD Mohanty, managing director of the lab.
Collector Bhupinder Singh Punia, who inaugurated the facility, said production will start from Friday itself and it will remain open round-the-clock. Punia said it will be of immense help for banana farmers of the district as they can now procure good quality seedlings and get market opportunity.
Deputy Director of Horticulture Digamber Panda said the Dhenkanal climate is suitable for cultivation of high-yielding bananas. The National Horticulture Mission has provided subsidy for promotion of the lab.