Governor inaugurates facility for mass production of orchids

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, August 16, 2018 :  Manipur governor Dr. Najma Heptulla today inaugurated the Facility for Mass production of Orchids and Farmers Training Hostel at National Bioresource Park at Haraorou, Imphal East. The inaugural function was organised by Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD). the Park is built in 40 acres of land and has 23 water harvesting structures and a helipad for exporting the orchids, medicinal and aromatic plants to other states. The local population are employed for the cultivation of crops and plants. There are around 750 orchid entrepreneurs.

The governor appreciated Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo and the officials for taking up the initiative to promote and preserve the local wild orchids for sustainable development of the local farmers. She also lauded the Institute for propagating and preserving the locally found aromatic and medicinal plants.

Stating that the State is ranked 8^th in biodiversity hotspots in the world, the governor said that we should be proud of our biodiversity and take active part in propagating and preserving the biodiversity. She said that she is very happy to see that an Orchidium has been installed at the park for promotion and preservation of the local orchid varieties for sustainable development and value added productions. The Governor encouraged the students of the Institute to search for the unknown and strive to increase their knowledge and always be ready to accept challenges. She further stated that it is unfortunate our country imports orchids from countries like Thailand when different variety of orchids are available and growing abundantly in the wild of North East region.

The governor further expressed her happiness by saying that the plastics flowers especially orchids will be soon replaced by the natural ones. She informed that orchids have become a status symbol in Delhi, a luxurious item of decoration during weddings because it is very expensive. She encouraged the people to treat plants kindly for they can feel like human beings. The governor also expressed her concern over Jhum cultivation and appeal to the people to engage in multi cropping system for soil preservation.

Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo, the director of IBSD said that the park is built in 40 acres of land and has 23 water harvesting structures and a helipad for exporting the orchids, medicinal and aromatic plants to other states. The local population are employed for the cultivation of crops and plants. There are around 750 orchid entrepreneurs in the State and in the coming years the state will become an Orchid hub in the country, he added.

 The function was attended by faculty members and students of the Institute of Bioresources and sustainable development.