Imphal: A two-day Outreach cum Training on Aromatic Oil Extraction programme was organised on Friday and Saturday at Huishu Village, Ukhrul district.
The programme was organised by Mikpingla Industries (MPI) and Ukhrul Hills development Foundation (UHDF) funded by the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Government of India. It was organised under the leadership and direction of Prof. Pulok Kumar Mukherjee, director, IBSD on the behest of Ningchui G. Shatsang, managing director, MPI and UHDF.
Altogether 16 staffs from IBSD and about 100 trainees from six different village villages including Huishu village, Poi village and Khamasom area comprising four villages attended the programme.
During the function, Dr. Raja Shekhar, scientist, a resource person elaborated the comprehensive research related activities of IBSD and besides the available medicinal herbs and other horticulture items. He encouraged the locals to plant lemon grass which will be a good alternative means of revenue in the region as the oil extracted from lemon grass can be used to make perfume and the grass itself is used as green tea.
Dr. Nanaocha Sharma, scientist, IBSD, addressed the possible business potential of the region if the available natural resources are utilised wisely and further assured to distribute 1 lakh saplings of lemon grass in the first part of March to those attended trainees. He said more number of outreach and training programmes in this region will be carried out in February-March as the region is quite suitable for various research works on flora and fauna and to ensure means of revenue for the locals in the region.
Dr. Sunil Thora, scientist, IBSD, a resource person stressed the beautiful exotic landscape and rich biodiversity of the region which can be converted into revenue of the locals. He said the beauty scenic would attract the fair amount of tourists from different places including foreigners if the locals provide a good homestay.
The land in the region is very fertile and will be suitable for various horticultural crops including lemon, avocado, orange and others which can be value added and further export to different states too, he added.
The programme was also attended by Yaruingam Ningshen, managing director, YRP as a resource person in which he extensively described the importance of entrepreneurship and its role towards community or nation building.
Dr. Chagmei Ningshen, nutritionist, another resource person drew warm attention of the trainees as she gave proper directions on eating and drinking habits. She said everything humans eat or drink requires certain guidance or direction given by dietitian otherwise what we eat or drink will soon eat or drink us.
On the other hand, on the last day of the programme, trainees and those who did not get chance to attend the program insisted the organisers and IBSD team to organise this kind of programme on a regular basis as the region being from extremely Indo-Myanmar border corner often neglected due to which people in the area have been suffering a lot.
Huishu-Khamsom-Poi area falls relatively in a very remote and difficult category in the region. There is no black top road connectivity to Huishu village nor a bailey bridge constructed on the big Challou river. Whoever wants to visit the village has to cross the approximately 50 metres river wide.
On the last day of the programme, staff of IBSD went for empirical research to the nearby forest and collected samples of insects and horticultural items.
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