Seminar on Yongchak and Agar-wood held

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, August 17, 2019: A one-day seminar on management of Yongchak (tree bean) and Agar-wood held at Hotel Imphal on Saturday discussed various methods to reduce the mortality of the Yongchak and Agar-wood induction technology.

The seminar was organised by the forest department.

Forest and environment minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar said number of Yongchak trees is declining due to some disease. He said Yongchak is imported from the neighbouring countries due to high demand, he said that the yongchak grown in the soil of the state has a unique taste.

Yongchak trees take 7 to 10 years to mature, but now, the trees can attain maturity within three years using modern methods. He appealed the ADC members and representatives, farmers and officials in the seminar to follow the suggestions and methods told by the experts at the seminar. He said they can further spread awareness to the masses.

For Agar-wood tree plantation the minister said it is best suitable to be grown in Jiribam, Moreh and Kamjong. With the knowledge shared by the experts, jhum cultivation can be controlled in the state as Agar-wood plantation can be another source of livelihood for the farmers, he added.

Opining that the plantations of these trees will surely help in environmental conservation, Shyamkumar appealed to the people to attend seminars and workshops organised by the various departments so that there is public awareness.

Additional chief secretary (forest and environment) Suhel Akhtar, said these trees can be an economic source for the people in Manipur. He said the number of Yongchak trees in the state is declining and some even resulting in mortality due to some diseases.

Opining that Agar-wood tree plantation can be a source of economic development to a large extent as market value of the price of this tree ranges between USD 5,600 to 10,000, he said the Agar-wood tree is grown in certain climate, not beyond 1000 meters above sea level. He said the farmer has to wait for minimum eight years so that artificial induction can be done before harvesting.

The seminar was also attended K. Angami, PCCF and HoFF, Dr RK Borah, scientists, Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat, scientists and scholars from different institutes, NGOs, progressive farmers and officials from the forest department.