Indigenous paddy varieties planned in 100 paris
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 06 2024:
Along with Green Foundation, All Manipur Trained Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Promoters Consortium (AMAPCON) is targeting to plant indigenous paddy varieties from next year.
In this regard, a day-long consultative meeting on "Promotion and Conservation of Indigenous Seeds" was conducted under the joint initiative of AMAPCON and Green Foundation at the latter's Kwakeithel office, here, on Wednesday.
In his address, Foundation CEO U Himmat said that AMAPCON and Green Foundation along with local farmers will be planting indigenous paddy varieties in around 10 paris of land, preceded by identification of farmers and paddy fields through participatory rural appraisal (PRA) .
The seeds will be produced using scientific technologies and GIS mapping of the paddy land conducted to allot plot and lot numbers of the said paddy fields.
The paddy seeds produced will be stored with proper labelling and the same planted next year in around 100 acres of paddy held..
Bharat Beej Swaraj Manch convenor Jacob Nellithanam, who was also present during the consultation meeting, said that the Manch along with farmers of different states has been taking up initiatives to promote and protect indigenous paddy seeds.
Genuine indigenous seeds are different from other seeds as the former bear fruit even if planted belatedly.
The consultation meeting was also attended by social activist Anil Hebbar of Mumbai, AMAPCON chairman Potshangbam Devakanta, member RK Phillips and KVK Thoubal former subject matter specialist S Sumangol.