Northeast

Governor Najma Heptulla urges scientists, experts to come together in saving Manipur’s Yongchak

The governor was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of the ‘one day National Seminar on Dying of Tree Beans in Manipur: Remedies and Steps towards Conservation’.

ByIFP Bureau

Updated 17 Jan 2021, 2:28 pm

(PHOTO IFP)
(PHOTO IFP)

Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla on Saturday urged scientists and experts in the state to come together and save the popular tree beans of Manipur, Yongchak, which has been gradually dying out in the state.

The governor was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of the ‘one day National Seminar on Dying of Tree Beans in Manipur: Remedies and Steps towards Conservation’ through a virtual mode/video conferencing held at Manipur University.

Expressing serious concerns over the issue, Najma said that tree beans, which is one of the most popular foods of Manipuris and the rest of Northeast India, is on the brink of becoming completely non-available in the market as it has been gradually dying out over the years.

The governor said that many cases of mass deaths of the tree beans have been observed in the Northeast Indian region, seriously affecting the socio-economic situation of the growers. Small production of the crop and its exorbitant prices has made the common men unable to afford it, the governor said.

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She further said, “There is an urgent need for scientific and biotechnological interventions for strategizing a short term and long term plans for the socio-economic impact, propagation and sustainable production of this important tree both in the hills and the plains of the state.”

The governor also lauded the scientists and experts of the College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University along with the State Agriculture Department for taking up research and investigations into the cause of the wide-spread death of the Yongchak trees.

She also expressed confidence that the scientists and experts from various parts of the country will certainly explore ways and means and exchange views during the seminar to save the species from extinction.

Speaking as the guest of honour, outer Manipur MP Dr Lorho S Pfoze expressed worry that the continuous degradation of nature by human beings has given adverse impacts on the relationship/links between men and nature, thereby increasing the impacts of global warming and climate change.

Pfoze urged all to go back to conserving nature for the sake of future generations while mentioning that the responsibility cannot be left only to the government and some certain departments.  

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Delivering his speech as the president, vice chancellor in charge MU professor Amar Yumnam said that universities and research institutes have no value if they stay aloof from the common people and do not contribute to solve the issues and problems emerging in the society.

Vice chancellor Central Agriculture University (CAU), Imphal Anupam Mishra; joint director ICAR, Imphal Dr I Meghachandra Singh;  senior principal Scientist Dr H Birkumar Singh CSIR-NEIST, Imphal among others attended the seminar as guests of honour.

Various scientists and representatives from CAU, Imphal, Manipur Organic Mission Agency and Apunba Imagi Machasing and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Indian Council of Agricultural Research spoke as resource persons during the technical session.

 The seminar was organised by the department of Zoology, Manipur University in collaboration with the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - North East Institute of Science and Technology, Imphal, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Manipur Centre, Manipur Organic Mission Agency and Apunba Imagi Machasing, Manipur.

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treesyongchaktree beans

IFP Bureau

IFP Bureau

IMPHAL, Manipur

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