Conservation of water, climate resilient crops and improvement of traditional farming systems besides integrated farming systems would enhance better management of the natural resources in the Northeast India.
This was shared by the experts and local stakeholders in diverse fields during a brainstorming session on Natural Resource Management and Rural Bio-entrepreneurship in Imphal on Thursday.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
The day-long open discussion on identifying the challenges and opportunities in Natural Resource Management and Rural Bio-entrepreneurship in Northeast was organized by the Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), a National Institute of Department of Biotechnology.
After all the issues of post harvest processing and marketing, payment of eco-system services and technologies for climate resilient agriculture besides water conservation initiatives draws attention of who’s who in the day’s session.
In his deliberation, Director, IBSD, Prof Dinabandhu Sahoo, expressed the urgent need to reverse urban migration through such interventions aimed at promoting rural bio-entrepreneurship by developing bio-based industries in rural areas that would not only double farmers’ income but also generate jobs and livelihoods for the unemployed youth.The action plan document is being developed under the chairmanship of Dr AK Singh, Secretary, NAAS, Prof Sahoo added.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
In his presentation, Dr Anil Kumar Singh, Secretary of National Academy of Agriculture Science (NAAS) also expressed the need to control shifting culvation,planted fellow, agro-forestry etc to address the issues relating to natural Resource Management and Rural Bio-entrepreneurship in the Northeast.
Fellow of Indian society of soil science Dr Anil Kumar also expressed his desire to conserve water in the Northeast for better management of the natural resources besides recommending climate resilient crops and other traditional farming systems. He also suggested to focus on water harvesting initiatives in the region for the long term natural resources management initiatives.
On the other hand Dr UK Behera, Dean Central Agricultural University Meghalaya, spoke on doubling farmers’ income by taking up integrated farming systems in the Northeast.
Earlier Speaker Y Khemchand Singh of Manipur Legislative Assembly, while inaugurating the formal opening function of the brainstorming session at Imphal Campus of IBSD, lauded the initiative and promised his support for bringing together all stakeholders for convergence of actions and implementation.
Other experts who also participated in the deliberations include Dr Ajay Parida, Director Institute of Life Sciences Cuttack ; Dr Umesh Kohli, Director Institute of Horticulture Technology Greater Noida; Dr DD Haokip, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Government of Manipur; Th Mohendra Pratap Singh, Chief Conservator of Forest, Government of Manipur ; Dr Syed S Kazi, Director of Guwahati based North East Development Foundation and several representatives of civil society.