Imphal: Manipur governor Anusuiya Uikey graced the programme on distribution of Honey-bee boxes and quality planting materials of medicinal and aromatic plants to farmers under the CSIR-Floriculture and Aroma Mission Projects held on Wednesday at CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Branch Laboratory, Lamphelpat, Imphal.
It is organised by CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology.
The governor also released a book entitled ‘Hidak Kanaraba Pambishing,’ (A treatise of medical, aromatic & economic plants) written by Dr. Huidrom Birkumar Singh, chief sist, CSIR-NEIST Branch, Lamphelpat.
Uikey said, CSIR has been at the forefront of scientific innovation, research education and support to private industries and farmers. Initiatives like Floriculture Mission and Aroma Mission projects under the mandate of CSIR, have helped farmers and entrepreneurs alike through economic upliftment and development of the rich bio-resources of the region. Farmers have benefited from the cultivation of medicinal plants and other economically important plants through these missions of CSIR, she added.
She continued that the need for alternative medicines was significantly realised during Covid-19 pandemic for boosting immunity.
She urged the experts to organise awareness program for the people to know the importance of such medicinal plants.
Beekeeping is an important venture for farmers in terms of additional income. This biodiversity also promotes the extremely important role of bees in the ecosystem, she said.
Regarding the newly released book, the governor said surveying, identifying and documenting existing traditional knowledge of medicinally and economically important plants of a region is essential to disseminate the knowledge to present and future generations.
She Dr. Singh for documenting the rich traditional knowledge heritage which will be an archival material for generations to come and appreciated his efforts to donate the books for the Internally Displaced Persons in the relief camps through Raj Bhavan.
She continued that the book details the botanical identification, characteristics, habit and habitat, distribution, ethno-medicinal and other economic uses of 117 plant species found in Manipur with color photographs. The north eastern region is a part of the Indo-Burma Center of Biodiversity Hotspot and this book records the medicinal, aromatic and economic importance of Manipur plants, she added.
Dr. VM Tiwari, director, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat and Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh, director, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru also graced the programme.
A team of CSIR visited Raj Bhavan and took stock of the Herbal garden along with Uikey.
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