Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Awareness and Diversity Fair in Assam and Meghalaya

The Plant Genetics Resources Conservation Awareness and Diversity Fair were organized at two places in collaboration with KVK, Dima Hasao, Haflong, Assam on 11.03.22 and at Marngar, district Ri-Bhoi, Meghalaya on 14.03.22 respectively under NEH Sub-plan. Over 270 farmers (90% women farmers) including local self-help groups, Anganwadi workers have attended the programme. Drs. RS Rathi and KC Bhatt, Principal Scientists, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi have explained the aim of organizing such programme to the participants and were made aware about the importance and need for conservation of precious wealth of local landraces, wild economic species, etc. available in northeastern hill region. Chief Guests Sh. Birensing Engti, Gam Buda (village headman of Longku) at Longku, Dima Hasao and Shri Surenderji Tehalkar, Sangthan Mantri, Seva Bharti Purvanchal, at Marngar have appreciated the efforts being made by ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi for conservation of local crops and traditional knowledge and suggested need for conservation of traditional varieties of rice, maize, coix, perilla, ginger, turmeric, citrus banana, local pulses, vegetables and endangered species like Nepenthes khasiana and Paris polyphylla etc. and associated traditional knowledge. They also suggested that such important programmes need to be organized in all tribal districts so that large number of farmers could be benefitted. The participants were also addressed by Mr Abhijit Mohpatra, KVK Dima Hasao and Mr. Mohan Phangchu -a Progressive Farmer at Longku and Sh. Ajay Naag, Pracharak, East Khasi Hills; Progressive Farmer Mr. Modit Benong and Sh. Jiten Sohkhwai at Marngar and expressed that such activity would definitely create awareness among the people for conservation of biodiversity. An interaction session was also conducted to know about the problems being faced by the farmers in crop management and the farmers were advised to make frequent visit of KVK Dima Hasao, Haflong and CPGS, CAU, Umiam for solution and new technologies. The local crop diversity brought by the farmers was also displayed during the workshop. While at the end, some small agricultural tools were also distributed among the farmers.