Panaji: Goa is set to get a Rs 11 crore Centre of Excellence for agriculture at Codar, Ponda, with a focus on the cultivation of high-value vegetables and exotic flowers.

The centre is being set up by the department of agriculture in collaboration with the Israeli government. The state government will fund the project, while Israel, a country known for its expertise in agriculture, will bring in the technology.

Israel’s ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, laid the foundation stone for the project in the presence of Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik and officials of the directorate of agriculture.

“Work on the project has already begun, with levelling of the land and fencing completed. The construction is likely to be complete in July,” said director of agriculture Nevil Alphonso.

The centre will not only provide the technology for high-value flowers like orchids and anthuriums but also the know-how for marigold flowers, he said.

The centre will start by raising seedlings for all local vegetables.

“Farmers in the state waste a lot of time and money growing seedlings. Chilli is the major vegetable crop in the state, grown during the Rabi season. However, farmers have to raise the seedlings and tend them till they are ready for transplanting, which delays cultivation. The centre will provide seedlings of chilli varieties suitable for Goa, including Khola hilies. The seedlings will be supplied to farmers in November,” said Alphonso.

The funding for the project is in a 60:40 ratio, with the central government contributing 60 per cent of the cost and the remaining coming from the state.

Experts from Israel visited the state at least four times to ascertain the local climatic conditions, soil, air quality, etc. before the Israeli government committed to the project, said the director of agriculture.

He said that the project will provide capacity-building training for Goan agricultural officers as well as local farmers. It will have a model farm for small landholding cultivators and also 13 protected structures that are automated with a controlled environment for growing.

“The Israel government will be assisting the state for a period of two years and thereafter will provide hand-holding support,” said Alphonso.