International Day of Plant Health observed widely
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 13 2024: In line with the celebration of International Day of Plant Health, the Department of Botany, School of Life Sciences, Manipur University organised a 1-day National Seminar on "Current Understandings of Plant Health" yesterday at the VC Court Hall of the varsity in Imphal.

The seminar which was conducted on hybrid mode (Online and Offline) began with an inaugural session attended by Prof N Lokendra Singh, Vice Chancellor, Manipur University; Prof GKN Chhetry, Dean, Schools of Life Sciences and Agricultural Sciences; Prof Th Binoy Singh, Head, Department of Zoology; and Prof M Damayanti Devi, Head, Department of Botany as presidium members, said a release.

Delivering the inaugural speech, Prof N Lokendra Singh mentioned the relevance of the seminar to discuss issues related to plant health with reference to the current problems of decline in crop productivity and food scarcity with due various factors including the negative impacts of plant diseases, pests & abiotic stress such as water scarcity, soil salinity, etc.

He also encouraged the young scholars to devote time and hard work to meaningful research problems of global concern.

Prof GKN Chhetry emphasized on the various factors affecting plant health and the need to.

look for sustainable remedies.

Prof Th Binoy Singh spoke on how food security is threatened by various biotic as well as abiotic stresses and emphasized on the need to overcome these problems sustainably.

Prof M Damayanti Devi, the convenor of the seminar laid emphasis on maintaining good plant health to ensure food security.

The dignitaries, along with the organising secretaries of the seminar, Dr S Sureshkumar Singh and Dr Heikham Evelin released the abstract book containing research papers from invited resource persons and contributed research papers from participants.

The seminar had three technical sessions with three speakers namely Prof Indira Sarangthem, Dean, Collage Of Agriculture (CoA), Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal; Dr..ARatankumar Singh, Senior Scientist, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), NEH region, Lamphelpat and Dr Gunjan Sharma, Assistant Professor, Gujarat Biotechnology University.

Prof Indira delivered a keynote address on "Sustainability of natural farming through crop residue recycling for nurturing soil and plant health" while Dr A Ratankumar spoke on "Understanding plant diseases and their health management for sustainable crop production" and Dr Gunjan spoke through online mode on the topic "From friend to foes: Leveraging sequencing technologies to investigate plant-fungal interactions".

The seminar was attended by 60 registered participants from across the country with 30 oral paper presentations and 16 poster presentations.

Participants from Manipur University, CAU, Imphal, University of Delhi, Nagaland University, Amity University, NIT, Agartala, Gujarat Biotechnology University, Magadh University, Ranchi University, NERIST, Arunachal Pradesh presented their research in the seminar.

The seminar concluded with a valedictory function attended by Prof GKN Chhetry; Prof N Mohilal Meitei, Director, College Development Council, MU and Prof M Damayanti Devi as presidium members.

Meanwhile, in celebration of the International Day of Plant Health on Sunday, the CoA, CAU, Imphal, showcased a commitment to fostering plant health awareness and environmental stewardship.

Led by Prof Indira Sarangthem, a dedicated team embarked on a meaningful initiative to promote the significance of plant health.

A notable highlight of the event was a plantation drive, where the campus adorned itself with the addition of Ashoka and golden pine avenue trees.

Spearheaded by Prof Indira Sarangthem and her team, this initiative not only beautified the campus but also contributed to enhancing the local ecosystem and promoting biodiversity.

Furthermore, the celebration included a creative endeavour in the form of a painting competition.

Students enthusiastically participated, showcasing their artistic talents while depicting the theme of "Plant Health, Safe Trade, and Digital Technology." This competition not only provided a platform for artistic expression but also served as a means to engage the younger generation in discussions surrounding the importance of plant health, sustainable trade practices, and the role of digital technology in agriculture.

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