Manipur Chief Minister dedicates 8 Crop Varieties of ICAR to Farmers

The ICAR-Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region, Manipur Centre together with the Chief Minister’s Office, Manipur organized the National Workshop on “Potential Crops of North East India: Prospects and Challenges & Ceremonial Release of Crop Varieties and Agro-Inputs Distribution Programme” on 15^th June 2021.

In his inaugural address, the Chief Guest,  N. Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur stressed on addressing the key challenges of agriculture in the state, taking in to consideration the changing agri-scenario, demand, quality food, nutritional requirement and diversification.

Dr. Suresh Kumar Chaudhari, Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management), ICAR underlined the importance of underutilized crops in contributing to the food and nutritional security, health, income generation and environmental services.

Joy Singh, I.A.S., Commissioner (Agriculture), Government of Manipur stated the importance of implementing the 10 strategies and approaches for increasing rice production of the state.

Dr. A.K. Tripathi, Director ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone - VII, Umiam underlined the KVKs' role and contribution in promoting the new technologies to achieve higher productivity and profitability in the North-Eastern States in general and Manipur in particular.

Dr. Lakshmi Kant, Director, ICAR-VPKAS, Almora, Uttarakhand stated that through the NEH programme, the ICAR-VPKAS is able to reach the farmers of the North-Eastern States.

Dr. V.K. Mishra, Director, ICAR-Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region emphasized on the importance of agricultural sector in the economy of North-East India and the systematic research and extension efforts of the Institute in developing and populating the technologies for the larger benefit of farming community of the region.

The Crop Varieties released during the occasion included 3 High Yielding Sticky Rice Varieties (RC Maniphou-14, RC Maniphou-15 and RC Maniphou-16), 2 Perilla Varieties (RC Manithoiding-1 and RC Manithoiding-2), 1 Brinjal Variety (RC Manikhamen-1) and 2 Maize Varieties (RC Manichujak-1 & RC Manichujak-2) developed by the ICAR, Manipur Centre.

The dignitaries distributed the Critical Agri-Inputs to about 1,000 farmers of the state during the occasion. The inputs included the Quality Seeds (RC Maniphou 13) from the Agriculture Department; Solar Driers, Light Traps and Farm Tools from the ICAR-VPKAS, Almora, Uttarakhand and the Sprayers, Poultry Chicks and Seeds from the KVKs.

(Source: ICAR-Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region, Manipur Centre, Imphal)