ICAR-NBGPR, Regional Station, Akola organized a Workshop cum Awareness programme under Tribal Sub-Plan on Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources for Health and Nutritional Security

A Workshop cum Awareness programme under Tribal Sub-Plan on “Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources for Health and Nutritional Security” was organized at tribal Vil: Badnapur, Tal: Chikhaldara, Dist: Amravati, Maharashtra State on 13th December 2019. It was organized with the local support from Gram Panchayat Badnapur and Jeevan Vikas Sanstha, Paratwada. A total of 223 participants comprising tribal farmers and organizers attended the programme. Tribal women farmers also participated proactively in the event. Dr. Atul Kalaskar, Programme Coordinator, KVK, Ghatkhed was the chief guest of the programme. Dr. Dinesh Chand, OIC, ICAR-NBPGR, Regional Station, Akola Chaired the programme. Sh. Satish Chimote, Sarpanch, Badnapur; Rev. Fr. Benjamin Horo, Executive Director, Jeevan Vikas Sanstha, Paratwada; Sh. Narendra Shingane, Director, SHINKA Farmers Producer Company, Chincholi; Mr. Gawai, Principal, ZP Primary School, Badnapur and Miss Saraswati Jhamarkar, Mahila Sarpanch of Vastapur village were the guests of honour. Dr. Sunil S. Gomashe, Scientist, ICAR-NBPGR, RS, Akola coordinated the event and highlighted the purpose of the workshop and programme. The tribal farmers were upraised on importance of conserving the valuable plant genetic resources in their region. Dr. Dinesh Chand gave overview of ICAR-NBPGR in conserving PGR and stressed on need of diversification in farming system by inclusion of millets, minor pulses and other potential crops. All the guests of honour in their address urged the tribal community to continue their valuable efforts in conserving native plant genetic resources which have high nutritional and medicinal value. Dr. Atul Kalaskar expressed thanks to ICAR-NBPGR for organizing the programme in their KVK jurisdiction and requested farmers to join their hands together in conserving and protecting valuable traditional seeds. Farmers exhibited the seeds and live samples at the event. NBPGR also displayed the diversity collected in millets, oilseeds ,pulses and potential crops live samples. A kit consisting of small farm impliments (Spade, Pick-axe and Ghamela), seeds of Grain Amaranth and one year old plants of Simarouba glauca were distributed to 150 beneficiary tribal farmers from Badnapur, Solamahu, Kalapani, Dobanbarda, Malkapur, Ramtek villages. Finally Dr. Sunil Gomashe proposed the vote of thanks and urged the tribal farmers to plant the Simarouba plants and use seeds of grain Amaranth for sowing.

(Source:  Dr. Dinesh Chand, ICAR-NBPGR, Regional Station Akola)