Five days National Training Programme on seed testing Kicks off at ICAR, Manipur Centre

Imphal, Aug.7: A five days long Special National Training Programme on “Advancement of Seed Testing” started at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Manipur Centre, Imphal. The training was inaugurated by Y. Joykumar Singh,  Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur as Chief Guest; while Dr. Suhel Akhtar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Manipur; Er. M. G. Viswakarma, NSRTC, Varanasi and Dr. S. V. Ngachan, Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam Meghalaya graced the function as Guests of Honour and President, respectively. In the inaugural function, Dr. N. Prakash, Joint Director, ICAR-Manipur Centre welcomed all the dignitaries and participants.
In his presidential speech, Dr. S. V. Ngachan, Director, ICAR, Meghalaya highlighted the importance of the training programme and achievements of ICAR in seed production in different NE states and acknowledge the contribution of different stakeholders in seed production in NEH region. He also mentioned the contribution of ICAR, Manipur Centre in supplying quality seed to Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Manipur during aftermaths of the current flood. He requested all concerned state departments to take up seed testing and seed certification programme for ensuring quality seed to the farmers.
The Guest of Honour, Dr. Suhel Akhtar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Manipur emphasized that due to location disadvantages, Manipur should be self-sufficient in food production including horticulture and without a good seed production programme this can not be achieved. He also requested ICAR to solve the storage problem of Manipuri Black Rice Chakhao. The other Guest of Honour Er. M. G. Viswakarma, NSRTC, Varanasi expressed that the participants will be highly benefitted from the interaction with different resource person in this training.
The Chief Guest of function  Deputy Chief Minister Y. Joykumar Singh mentioned his long association with ICAR. He stated that to bring development in the state agriculture sector is the first priority. He also opined that though Manipur has potential in tourism and healthcare, but agriculture should be the main backbone of state’s economy. He also emphasized on creation of irrigation facility to make the seed production programme successful. He requested the scientific experts to consider regional condition and agro-climate for devising agricultural strategy. He also highlighted the need for setting criteria for selection of seed for propagation of tree bean (Yongchak).
The inaugural function was ended with vote of thanks by Dr. I. Meghachandra Singh, Principal Scientist (Seed Technology), ICAR, Manipur Centre and the Course Coordinator of the training programme.
The event is being jointly organized by ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Manipur Centre, Imphal and National Seed Research and Training Centre (NSRTC), Varanasi, U.P. and sponsored by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India and Manipur Small Farmers’ Agri-business Consortium, Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Manipur. In this Special National Training Programme more than 60 participants covering scientists, academicians, seed analyst, state officials and extension functionaries from different North Eastern India and also from Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana are participating in the said event. Resource persons from different parts of the country will share their knowledge and experience with the participants in the said programme. The said training is aiming to impart advance knowledge in the field of seed testing to the participants.