A two-day Awareness and Training Programme on Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Organic Farming was organised at Angh Hall, Agri Expo, Chümoukedima, Nagaland, on February 19 and 20, bringing together scientists, academicians, practitioners and farmers to discuss conservation driven and sustainable agriculture.
The first day’s technical session was chaired by Dr Sushil Pandey, Principal Scientist at ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi, with Dr Sentirenla Jamir of the School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, as co-chairperson. Dr Chithra Devi Pandey presented an overview of vegetable genetic resources conserved in the National Genebank and stressed their role in future food and nutritional security. Somitam Pielie of the Nagaland Bio Resource Mission spoke on medicinal and aromatic plants of Nagaland, while Daniel Konyak from the State Agricultural Research Station highlighted ongoing germplasm conservation efforts and urged farmer participation.
On the second day, the first technical session was chaired by Prof Akali Sema of Nagaland University, with Dr Graceli Yepthomi as co-chairperson. Prof C S Maiti, in a lecture on “Genetic Resources of Horticultural Crops in Nagaland and Utilization,” reported that about 800 germplasm accessions are conserved at SARS, Yisemyong, and emphasised the need to register local varieties for ownership and benefit sharing. Dr G D Harish of ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station, Shillong, spoke on “Role of ICAR-NBPGR in Conserving Plant Genetic Resources of the North Eastern Hill Region (NEHR),” highlighting biodiversity hotspots and conservation methods such as cryopreservation.
Dr Wasifur Rahman of ASOMI Polyseeds Pvt. Ltd., Assam, addressed “Conservation, Consumption and Commercialisation of Local Food – The Green Commandos’ Way of Climate-Smart Hill Farming and Bio-Happiness,” while Manen Ozukum of Green Caravan shared grassroots experiences in organic farming and certification.
The second technical session, chaired by Prof Malini B Sharma, focused on biodiversity, ecosystems and insect diversity in Nagaland, with speakers underlining threats such as chemical use and climate change. The programme concluded with interactive discussions, supported by interpretation services, reinforcing the importance of conserving genetic resources for sustainable livelihoods in the region.