KOHIMA Oct 14: Nagaland Parliamentary Secretary for Horticulture Neiba Kronu attended the Trade Fair and Conference in America and Switzerland from September 26 to October 5 last. According to sources today Mr. Kronu first attended the BioFach America organised by organic and natural products sector at Baltimore in the state of Maryland on the East Coast of America from September 26 to 28. He had a meeting with Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) team comprising of Laura Batcha, executive vice-president, OTA; David Gagnon, chief operating officer, OTA, and Jessica Poingt, senior international trade manager. The scope of tea, ginger, pineapples and honey from the state of Nagaland as well as bringing buyers mission from America to Nagaland was also discussed.
He also held a meeting with executive director, International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM), Markus Arbenz, in Bonn, Germany. IFOAM is an umbrella organization having presence in 116 countries, works globally with a mission to lead, unite and assist the organic movement. In Switzerland, Kronu visited Research Institute for Organic Agriculture – FiBL (Frick, Switzerland), an independent, non-profit, research institute with the aim of advancing cutting-edge science in the field of organic agriculture. The research team works together with farmers to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions to boost agricultural productivity without losing sight of environmental, health and socio-economic impacts. FiBL gives high priority to transferring knowledge into agricultural practice through advisory work, training and conferences. Presentations about the Institute including their key projects were given by the following: Director Dr. Urs Niggili, Head International Division Beate Huber and Senior Scientist Dr. Gurbir S Bhullar. Dr. Niggli mentioned about various high profile projects of FiBL across the world including in Bolivia, Switzerland and also in India (Madhya Pradesh). He offered assistance of FiBL for any technical cooperation with the government of Nagaland. In reply to this, Kronu thanked the director and presented him with mementos from Nagaland. Meanwhile, head of Business Development, Bio.Inspecta, Switzerland, Brend Jauch made a presentation on the need for certification, certification requirements, different international private labels and rules and regulations operating at international level.
(UNI)
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