International consultative meeting on Seribiotechnology begins
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 05 2012:
A 3-day long International consultative meeting on Seribiotechnology has commenced from today under the auspices of Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Imphal (Department of Biotechnology, Government of India) at MFDC Auditorium, Palace Gate here.
Speaking as Chief Guest of the inaugural function, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam urged the scientific community and the people of the North- East to elevate silk industry, which has the potential to bring about socio-economic development in the region.
He said that in order to bring about overall improvement in the economy of the State and the region, we need to develop the Sericulture industry at its best level.
As such, we need to pay more emphasis on Seribiotechnology.
Gaikhangam pointed out that in the past, sericulture received the patronage of Royal families of North East India and this old- age practice and cottage industries of the rural populace of NE India is now "under threat" due to advent of modern synthetic clothing.
The silk industry is largely dependent on production of large number of cocoons, produced by some particular type of insect as well as their related host plant.
So, there is always a symbolic relationship between the silkworm and their host plant.
He expressed concern that population of both the organisms and host plant are gradually diminishing and the people are also losing interest in this enterprise lately.
Nonetheless, cultural tradition, heritage and availability of genetic resources (about 500 types of cultivated silkworms) are interwoven with the necessity, and we should not forget this, he exhorted, while calling upon the scientific community and the people of the region to elevate silk industry, which has the potential to bring about socio-economic development in the region.
Recalling that IBSD was established in the State in 2001, the Deputy Chief Minister noted that ever since its inception, the institute has been carrying out all types of research work in the state.
The consultative meeting being inaugurated today is indeed praiseworthy.
Various experts from across the country are taking part in the consultative meeting and the recomm.
Prof YP Lim of Chungnam National University, Daejong, South Korea, who was also present on the occasion as Guest of Honour, pointed out that there are lots of similarities between the Manipuris and the Koreans.
Not only in languages the two communities speak but also in the use of certain fermented vegetables.
Furthermore, he noted that certain states of North east India including Manipur and Assam, have rich bioresources which need to tap for betterment of the society in all aspects.
Silk industry can be easily developed in the highest level if India and South Korea work together in this field, Prof Lim suggested.
Delivering the Presidential speech, Prof H Nandakumar Sharma, Vice Chancellor of Manipur University, said that Manipur is a land fit for producing sericulture products.
We need to increase the sericulture products and make it fit for exporting outside the state and beyond.
We need to include Manipur in the sericulture map of the world.
He pointed out that now in India; Domestic demand on silk products is thirty-thousand metric tonne while the normal production is seventy-thousand metric tonne only.
Employment to millions of people in the country can be easily provided if we can develop silk industry properly, he added.
A souvenir was also released on the occasion by the Chief Guest.
The three-day long consultative workshop is being attended by various resource persons from different countries.
They include K Mita of NIAS, Japan; MJ Fraser of UND, USA; RV Lewis of USU, USA; Kadono of Japan; N Nagarajan of GIS, Singapore; ML Gulrajani of IITD, New Delhi, KPA Kumar of CDFD, Hyderabad and D Kumar of IASRI, Delhi.
Prof KP Gopinathan, INSA Honorary Professor, IISC, Bangalore, Dr NC Talukdar, Chairman, ICMS 2012 and Dr T Shantibala, Scientist, IBSD and organizing secretary, ICMS 2012 were also present during the inaugural function of the consultative meeting which is being under the sponsorship of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
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