CAU celebrates 'International Biodiversity Day'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 22 2021:
Central Agricultural University, Imphal celebrated International Biodiversity day today.
A webinar was held in order to create awareness among the students across North East of India.
Every year on May 22, International biodiversity day is celebrated with a specific theme to create awareness and help in conservation of biodiversity.
This years theme was "we are part of the solution for nature" in continuation of the last year's theme to emphasise that for solving the problems of nature, the solutions lie with the human beings themselves, said a statement issued by CAU.
Dr E V Divakara Sastry, incharge PME cell of the University introduced the speakers to the audience which consisted of students from across the North East along with several functionaries related to biodiversity in North East of India.
As part of the celebrations, CAU invited eminent speakers notably Dr PN Mathur, Global Coordinator Kirkhouse trust, UK who enlightened the participants about biodiversity conservation needs and international efforts.
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The importance of agro biodiversity of North East of India was emphasised and the need for their conservations was stressed.
The second speaker Dr SK Das, Principal Scientist, ICAR, Barapani, Meghalaya graphically illustrated the diversity of fish species across the North East of India and the technologies developed to conserve them.
The technologies developed by scientists has brought state fish of Manipur the Pengba from near extinction to abundant one.
It is heartening to note that although North East of India is rich in fish species both edible and ornamental, yet uncontrolled exploitation is pushing several of the species to extinction, hence their immediate conservation should be the priority.
North East of India is also home to important spices and their varieties, most of the varieties of ginger and turmeric which are grown across the country have their origins from North East, emphasised Dr Nirmal Babu, ex director of Indian Institute of Spices research, Kozhikode.
Concerted efforts are required to conserve the diverse types of varieties of king chillies and birds eye chillies which are unique only to North East he emphasised, he added.
Dr HB Singh, Principal Scientist of NEIST, CSIR, Imphal catalogued important commercial products developed from herbs and medicinal plants available from Manipur.
Similarly he has shown success stories of farmers of Medicinal plants are benefited and help maintain the craft of indigenous medicine in North East.
Dr Anumpan Mishra, Vice Chancellor of Central Agricultural University, Imphal in his concluding remarks has highlighted the important work carried out by the Central Agricultural University.
The webinar ended with a vote of thanks by Dr S Basanta Singh, Director of instruction, Central Agricultural University who on his part as director of research also highlighted the conservation efforts of University and future programme to be carried out in this direction in future.