Our Correspondent
Imphal, Feb. 7 (EMN): The Agriculture scientists, researchers policy makers and implementing officers on Tuesday expressed their desire to establish a training centre to produce quality seed in north eastern region particularly in Manipur.
The observation was tabled for recommendation at the valedictory programme of the three-day national on “Strengthening of seed system in north-eastern and unreached regions - problems, prospects and policies” held in Imphal.
To materialise this, Dr. I Meghachandra, joint director of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Complex for North Eastern Hill Region Manipur Centre said the department of Agricultural Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, New Delhi have to take a strong steps and enforce certain steps under Seeds Act (1966) so that the concerned state governments can take up the initiative.
Experts present at the seminar also expressed that the authorities of all the Northeast states should support the initiative of producing quality seeds.
The three-day gathering recommended the use of balanced farming and development of organic seed production and certification.
The members recommended seed production under protected cultivation technology and urged both the public and private organisations to come together and plan for seed production as well as to make it available at affordable price to the farmers.
The seminar which aims to create a new mechanism to produce and provide quality seeds for progressive agriculture system in the regions was organised by the Indian Society of Seed Technology (ISST), New Delhi in association with ICAR for North Eastern Hill
Region Manipur Centre and Central Agricultural University (CAU) Imphal besides DAC, New Delhi.
Agriculture Minister Hangkhanlian in his valedictory speech said that Manipur’s has shortfall of 115.15 thousand tonnes of food grains annually.
“To realise Prime Minister’s initiative of doubling the farmers’ Income by 2022, plans are on to implement the strategies for Manipur prepared by experts from different stakeholders including ICAR, CAU and state departments,” he said.
During the programme, Ch Amir Singh Memorial Lifetimes Achievement Award, Scientist of Eminence Award, Young Scientist Award for 2017 and 2018, ISST Fellows, ISST Best Research Paper for the Year 2017 and others were given.
