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Two days’ workshop on Plant Genetic Resources of Sikkim: Present Status and Conservation Needs along with Biodiversity Fair was organised by ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources in Collaboration with ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchid, Pekyong, Sikkim during 19-20.10.2022 at College of Agriculture Engineering & Post Harvest Technology, Central Agriculture University (CAU), Ranipool Campus, Sikkim. Workshop and Biodiversity Fair was inaugurated by Shri J D Bhutia, Secretary, Agriculture, Government of Sikkim as a Chief Guest. Dr. AK Pandey, Dean, College of Horticulture, CAU, Bermiok, Sikkim was Guest of Honour in the Inaugural function and chaired the first Technical Session. Workshop was attended by more than 300 participants including farmers, from all the six districts of Sikkim, Officials of State Agricultural and Horticultural Department, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, NGOs, Self Help Groups and FPOs, Students and staff of CAU, Sikkim University, ICAR Research Complex, Sikkim Biodiversity Board and NRC Orchid. Secretary Agriculture, Government of Sikkim highlighted the rich agro-horticultural genetic diversity of State and its importance for the farmers and local people. He emphasised on the demand for local millets, pseudocereals and flowers of Sikkim in not only India but from several countries of the world. He was overwhelmed to participate in this workshop and Biodiversity Fair and appreciated the ICAR-NBPGR and NRC Orchid for organising the first of its kind workshop in the State of Sikkim on Plant Genetic Resources. He expressed keen interest in the activities and conservation efforts being made by ICAR-NBPGR in the Northeast India and hope for more formal collaboration with ICAR-NBPGR for community conservation and sustainable utilization of Sikkim Plant Genetic Resources. Dr. AK Pandey, Dean, Horticulture College, CAU expressed the need to undertake urgent conservation efforts for PGR of Sikkim as climate change and other developmental activities are impacting agri-horticultural wealth of this beautiful and genetic diversity rich state. During the workshop in three technical sessions presentations were made by Dr SK Malik, Principal Scientist, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi, Dr. SP Ahlawat, Principal Scientist and Head, ICAR-NBPGR, Dr. Rampal, Director, ICAR-NRC Orchid, and district Agriculture and Horticulture Officers of six districts of Sikkim and Member of Sikkim Biodiversity Board. In the concluding and interactive session Joint Director, Agriculture Sikkim participated along with all the district Agriculture and Horticulture Officers. It was brought out during the interaction that all the germplasm available with farmers and other stakeholders should be given national identity and wherever required registration of Farmers Varieties should be facilitated. It was also emphasised to have more interaction and awareness programmes at district level and facilitate community seed banks in collaboration with State Agricultural Department, KVKs, and CAU. Biodiversity Fair was a big success and attended by large number of farmers, self-help groups, FPOs, two KVKs, District Agricultural and Horticultural Departments, Spices Board, Ayush Department, NGOs and others. Participants of Biodiversity Fair were encouraged by awarding first, second and third award along with two consolation awards for the best exhibitors. All the participants agreed to bring out Status Report of PGR of Sikkim and action plan for their management in a time bound manner. This State level workshop was coordinated jointly by Dr. S K Malik, Principal Scientist, ICAR-NBPGR and Dr. Rampal, Director, NRC Orchid. Shri PK Jain, CAO (Sr. scale), Shri OP Dhariwal, Sr, Technical Officer, ICAR-NBPGR and Dr. Smita Lenka, ACTO, ICAR-NBPGR also attended this workshop. The workshop was organised under the NEH Scheme and benefited the farmers and other stakeholders of state department in Sikkim.
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(Source: Dr Surendra Kumar Malik, New Delhi)
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