Tura, March 28: With the aim of educating and sensitizing local farmers on the conservation and sustainable utilization of plant biodiversity, a one-day workshop on Plant Genetic Resources Awareness Programme was held in Dakopgre in West Garo Hills on Friday.

Organised by the ICAR – National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, in collaboration with ICAR – Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), West Garo Hills, at SMELC Hall in Dakopgre, the workshop saw active participation of 100 farmers from seven different villages across West Garo Hills district, reflecting the community’s keen interest in sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation.

Expert from ICAR-NBPGR, Dr. Pavan Kumar Malav detailed the organization’s role in preserving plant genetic resources across different agro-climatic zones of India through germplasm collection, characterization, documentation and seed banking.

Dr. Subarna Hajong highlighted the vulnerability of indigenous plant species attributable to habitat loss, climate change, and shifting agriculture practices, and stressed the necessity of community involvement in their conservation.

Furthermore, Dr. Monica Suresh Singh, Senior Scientist & Head of ICAR-KVK, emphasized the unique biodiversity of the North Eastern Region, particularly Meghalaya, and the critical need to preserve species like Citrus Indica, a threatened ancestral citrus species native to the state.

To support the participating farmers, the workshop also distributed essential agricultural inputs, including knapsack sprayers, vermibeds, tarpaulins, torch, secateur, watering pipes, crates, summer vegetable seeds and arecanut saplings, with the hope of aiding their farming activities, enhancing productivity and sustainability. Farmers expressed immense gratitude for the knowledge and resources provided, indicating a strong positive impact of the workshop.

The program underscored the importance of collaborative efforts of scientists, officials, and farmers in promoting plant genetic resources awareness and safeguarding plant diversity for future generations.

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