One Family, One Garden Initiative

Ishwar Ramlutchman has signed an agreement with Bangalore-based biotechnology firm, Green Harvest for setting up a laboratory on tissue culture and cell culture in South Africa. AC Industrial will provide the strategic plan and infrastructure, while under the MoU, Green Harvest will assist the South African company with technology, training and equipment for the Centre. The MoU was signed during South African President, Jacob Zuma’s three-day visit to India. The total cost for setting up the Centre, which will be set up in Richards Bay, will be around 4-million rands. Initially, the Centre will have the capacity to produce 1-million plants, which will be later upgraded to 2-3-million plants. The Centre is in keeping with the South African Government’s long-term goal of “One family One garden”, Ishwar Ramlutchman, said. “There is not much work on biotechnology in South Africa and this Centre will be an initiative for producing disease-free and better plants in a controlled environment,”he said. The bio technology centre will contribute to the GDP of the country and uplift the development of rural areas in the field of agriculture. It would also create over 200 jobs for rural women. In addition, the project will boost rural development and revive the agricultural system in SA while producing disease-free and better plants in a controlled environment.