Agartala, February 9 (TIWN): A two-day district Level Seminar on Spices was inaugurated at Pragna Bhawan here today. The seminar was organized by the Spices Board, Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry in association with Tripura Horticulture Department.

Joint Director of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR)- Dr. M Dutta inaugurated the seminar while the welcome address was delivered by the Deputy Director of Spices Board- PC Gopallakrishnan.

With the beginning of technical session, lecture on production and processing technologies in Black Pepper and research highlights in spice cultivation and processing with emphasis on Ginger and Turmeric was delivered by the Principal Scientist of Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, Kerala- Dr. P Rajeev and Asst Professor (Horticulture), College of Agriculture- Dr. Irenaeus Thingreinga.

Principal Scientist (Horticulture), ICAR Research Complex for NEH region- Dr. Biswajit Das and Scientist of RRII- Dr. Bhaskara Datta delivered lectures on production technologies for Ginger and Turmeric cultivation and prospects of growing spice as an intercrop in immature rubber plantations respectively.

Soumitra Das, Department of Horticulture delivered address on status paper on spice production in Tripura while the Assistant Director of HRC, Nagicherra- US Debnath discusses on improved package of practices for cultivation of tree spices in Tripura.

On the closing day of the seminar, the experts would deliver lectures on varietal improvement and post harvest processing in spices, organic farming and development programmes in spices and many other topics.

The Principal Secretary of Agriculture, ARDD and Forest departments was supposed to attend the inaugural session of the seminar as chief guest but he could not.