Kalimpong, Feb. 10: The West Bengal Comprehensive Area Development Corporation (CADC) plans to train youths of Kalimpong subdivision in production of hybrid varieties of cauliflower, cabbage and capsicum.

Sangram Shekar Mandal, officer-in-charge (horticulture) of CADC’s Kalimpong project, said: “We will provide training to unemployed youths about the process of seed crossing to produce new varieties.”

The first training programme will consist of theory classes for about a week followed by another week of practical training, where youths will be shown the technique of producing hybrid seeds.

“For the first time in the hills, we are dealing with production of new hybrid varieties of vegetables. Earlier, there was a limited number of hybrid varieties that we dealt in,” said Mandal.

“There used to be only one variety of cauliflower but now we train youths to produce five more varieties,” he added.

CADC has also found a location suitable for production of cabbage seeds.

“A certain temperature and climate is needed for production of cabbage seeds. We found that high-altitude locations like Lava and Reshyab are suitable for cultivation of cabbage. So we are planning to train youths of these areas in propagation of hybrid cabbage seeds,” said Mandal.

CADC has also begun producing hybrid seeds of capsicum.

“In February last year, we trained five youths in production of hybrid capsicum seeds and it proved to be a success. So we are launching production on a large scale,” said Mandal.

The CADC is not only training unemployed youths but is also providing them free mother seeds so that youths can take up cross breeding of seeds to produce new varieties of seeds.

“We provide youths with free mother seeds produced by multinational companies. Not only do we train them but also supervise the production of hybrid seeds. We purchase the hybrid seeds produced and test them. The seeds are then sold to multinational companies in Holland,” said Mandal.