Junagadh: Gir Somnath district, famous for its Kesar mango variety has got Rs 4 crore Indo – Israel Centre of Excellence for Mango (CEM).

Talala is the hub of Kersar mango trade.

The Centre of Excellence for Mango has been set up at government seed farm in 4 bigha land under Indo-Israel Work plan with fund under Central government’s Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

It was launched today in presence of MoS Agriculture in Centre Parshottam Rupala and Israel’s Ambassador in India Danial Carmon.

The farmers will be taught about new techniques like mulching and drip irrigation that can potentially save 70% water for irrigation while yielding more and better crop at the same time.Farmers will be shown post-harvest technologies and how to rejuvenate old mango trees along with high-density plantation and growing fruits that are free from pests and diseases under greenhouse conditions. According to the horticulture department, mango orchards are spread in nearly 1.50 lakh hectare in the state with an average yield of 8.13 metric tonnes per hectare.