Ranchi: After nearly three decades, Ranchi’s once-famed bacon factory can soon expect to see a new lease of life as Jharkhand govt on Thursday signed an MoU with Indian Council of Agricultural Research–National Meat and Poultry Research Institute (ICAR-NMRI), Hyderabad, in presence of chief minister Hemant Soren. Simultaneously, the state horticulture department under the agriculture department also forged an MoU with the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru for development and expansion of the horticulture sector in the state.Soren said that the MoUs will prove beneficial to revive the animal husbandry and horticulture sector which in turn will help in improving farmers’ income and rural economy.On the occasion, ICAR-NMRI principal scientist M Muthukumar said their collaboration is a significant opportunity to transform Jharkhand’s meat sector by introducing modern processing technologies and scientific practices.“The revival of the bacon factory will act as a catalyst for the comprehensive development of the meat processing sector in the state, benefiting farmers, entrepreneurs and consumers alike,” he said.According to officials, the key objectives of the MoU will be to provide technical expertise for modernisation and revival of the bacon factory; development of comprehensive meat processing infrastructure in Jharkhand; implementation of international quality standards in meat processing; capacity building for local entrepreneurs and workers in the meat sector among others.Another MoU between the Directorate of Horticulture, Jharkhand and the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru is for the development and expansion of the horticulture sector in the state.“IIHR-Bengaluru will help in improving productivity, quality and value addition to different horticulture produces in the state,” said an official.Agriculture minister Shilpa Neha Tirkey added that both the MoUs will have far reaching impact for farmers in Jharkhand. “Our govt is fully dedicated to strengthening animal husbandry and promoting value addition in the state’s livestock sector to increase farmer’s income. The efforts are in that direction,” she said.
