KANGPOKPI, April 5: Governor of Manipur VK Duggal inaugurated the National Symposium on Gene Conservation of Medicinal and Horticultural Orchids of the North Eastern Region and their sustainable use through community participation at Orchid Research and Development Centre, Hengbung today.
The symposium is being organized in the backdrop of Orchid Research and Development Centre by a grant from the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India at Hengbung with the FEEDS as the host institution.
A part from various dignitaries Jacintha Lazarus, DC Senapati; Dr.NK.Krishna Kumar, Dy. Director General (Horticulture) ICAR, Delhi; Prof.SN.Puri, Vice Chancellor, CAU Imphal; Prof.PK.Khosla, Vice Chancellor, Shoolini University, Solan; Dr. LMS Palni, former Director, G.B.Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, Almora; Dr.A.N.Rao, Director, ORDC; Haokholet Kipgen, President FEEDS; Prof.Pramod Tendon, NEHU and Dr.SK.Vettivel, Advisor FEEDS attended the inaugural function.
The Governor lighted the symposium lamp.
The Governor inaugurated the symposium by lighting the lamp. In his address he said the Eastern Himalayan region is the richest area of Orchid distribution where about 1,000 species have been reported. Manipur has reported about 280 species, he said.
Mankind has been using orchids for medicinal purposes especially Indian and Chinese systems of medicine. North East India has all requirements to become a hub for this business if efforts are made asserted V.K.Duggal while adding that this region has the potential to compete with Holland, Thailand, Singapore and other countries.
“I am told that about 10 MT of the orchids from Manipur are smuggled across Moreh-Tamu sector every year at an average value of Rs.4,000/- per Kg.,” said the Governor adding that the main orchid smuggled are Dendrobium nobile, the noble dendrobium, which is used in Chinese medicine.
With such large scale smuggling these species are becoming rarer and rarer every passing year noted the Governor of Manipur while adding that conserving orchids needs two pronged strategy i.e. Situ Conservation and Conserving the Gene pool.
He continued that since Himalayas is the richest region in orchids in India it would be appropriate that a systematic approach for the entire north east region is worked out.
While wishing the symposium a grand success he hoped that the deliberations during the symposium by the experts in their respective fields will throw up some important aspects on the strategy for orchids conservation and their sustainable use so that these are preserved and conserved for the future generation.
In the meantime before attending the inaugural function of National Symposium at Hengbung the Governor of Manipur visited Autonomous District Council Sadar Hills where a grand welcome was organized for him at the Council Hall.
Various civil organization leaders including that of Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, KTC, KYU, KWWO attended the welcoming function apart from members of ADC Sadar Hills.
Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills submitted a memorandum urging the Governor to inaugurate Sadar Hills as a full-fledged Autonomous District at the earliest; upgrading CHC Kangpokpi to fifty bedded hospital and PHCs at Saikul and Gamnom Sapormeina to CHC; redressal of All Tribal Chief Forum Manipur and sanctioned construction of one indoor stadium at Kangpokpi.
