IBSD launches Sakura avenue
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 16 2016:
Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) today launched its first cherry blossom avenue at its Takyelpat complex today.
Speaking to reporters, IBSD Director Prof Dinabandhu Sahoo said that some scientists conducted trekking expeditions at different forest areas of the State in the past some weeks.
During an expedition at Mao, they came across Sakura plants which give Cherry Blossom flowers last week.
Saying that they have been looking for Sakura plants since the past one and half years, Prof Dinabandhu said that they however found it only last week.
He also said that Sakura is a unique trees which bears pink or reddish cherry blossom flowers.
Sakura trees bear flowers in November in the North East although it normally blooms flowers in March-April in Japan.
Now the plant has been discovered, Manipur can also plant Sakura plants on road sides like in Japan, he said.
Saying that Sakura plants take five years to fully grow up to a tree, Prof Dinabandhu said that Sakura plants were discovered in Meghalaya for the first time in the North East.
Meghalaya Government began large scale plantation of Sakura plants in May last year, Prof Dinabandhu said.
He said Japan has been promoting plantation of Sakura plants across the globe.
According to Japanese tradition, the flower is a symbol of peace, love and tranquillity.
Hunami festival is celebrated when Sakura plants bloom flowers.
Claiming that Japan is promoting Sakura to other countries due to the initiative taken up IBSD, Prof Dinabandhu said that Sakura plants were planted by the representatives of IBSD and Japanese delegates in New Delhi in February this year.
Saying that IBSD would popularise Sakura in the North East as well, Sakura plants would be planted in Sikkim and Mizoram as well.