Agartala, February 28 (TIWN): Crop Varieties, developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is scheduled to be released at ICAR Complex, NEH region (Tripura center) located at Lembucherra here on Sunday. The crop varieties are identified by Tripura State Variety Release Committee.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar would occasionally release the crop varieties in presence of the other distinguished guests and dignitaries. Over 450 farmers from different parts of the state are expected to attend the crop varieties releasing ceremony.

According to a source, the ICAR has developed and released nearly 3,300 high-yielding varieties/hybrids of field crops for different agro-ecologies; facilitated verification and identification of technologies under the country-wide, synergistic network of All India Co-ordinate Projects.

In order to provide an adequate research base for supporting agricultural development in the North Eastern Hill (NEH) region of the country, the research complex for NEH region was established in the year 1975 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the source said.

The source further state that it is the first institute of its kind setup by ICAR which encompasses all the disciplines of agriculture, horticulture, animal sciences, agricultural engineering, agro forestry and fishery to cater to the research needs of the tribal areas of NEH Region including Sikkim.

The main objectives of ICAR’s research complex, NEH region are; development of sustainable farming systems for different agro-climatic and socio-economic zones of the region, improvement in the productivity of different crops, live stocks and aquatic fauna through the development / screening of varieties and agro-techniques, improvement in rain-fed agriculture through watershed based approach and sustainable development of local competence through training on agriculture and allied sectors, the source added.