Nishikant announces Dec NE Indigenous Seeds Fest
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 06 2026: Keishamthong AC MLA Nishikant Singh Sapam has announced that the North East Indigenous Plant Seeds Festival-2026 will be held from December 16 to 18 at the complex of College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University (CAU), Iroisemba.

Addressing a press conference at CAU today, Nishikant, who is the chairman of the organising committee of the festival, called for the preservation of indigenous plant and paddy seeds, stating that they are closely associated with the culture, traditions and identity of the State.

The MLA said that he decided to join the organising committee in view of its initiative to preserve indigenous seeds.

The festival will be jointly organised by the All Manipur Trained Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Promoter Consortium (AMAPCON), in association with Bharat Beej Swaraj Manch (Indian Seed Sovereignty Alliance), Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE), Mani-pur, and Action Aid India, under the theme "Plant Seeds for Peace and Harmony: Our Common Heritage, Cultivating Climate Resilience through Culture and Traditions" .

During the function, Nishikant also launched the official website of AMAPCON.

AMAPCON president Potsangbam Devakanta said that a total of 122 paddy varieties have been registered with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (PPV&FRA), Government of India.

He said that the registration is valid for 15 years.

Stating that indigenous paddy seeds play a key role in developing high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties, he expressed his desire for farmers in Manipur to apply for registration with the PPV&FRA .

He said that a Deputy Director of the PPV&FRA may visit Manipur during the three-day festival.

Saying that indigenous paddy varieties, including Taothabi, Tumai Angoubi and Tumai Angangbi, are gradually disappearing, he added that Tumai Angouba, on the other hand, is considered extinct.

Regional seminars on indigenous plant and paddy seeds, along with exhibitions of seeds, farming tools and other related items, will be held as part of the three-day festival.

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