Guv Dr Najma calls for scientific intervention to save Yongchak

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 16: Expre-ssing serious concern over the gradual dying of tree bean (Yongchak) in the State, Governor Dr Najma Heptulla has urged scientists and experts in the State to come together to save the legume from extinction.
She was speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration session of a “One day National Seminar on Dying of Tree Bean in Manipur: Remedies and Steps Towards Conservation” through virtual mode/video conference.
The seminar was organized by  Manipur University in collaboration with the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - North East Institute of Science and Technology,  Imphal, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ma-nipur Centre, Manipur Or- ganic Mission Agency and Apunba Imagi Machasing, Manipur.
Najma said that tree bean which is a popular food of the locals of Manipur and North-East India is on the brink of non-availability in the markets due to gradual dying over the years.
She continued that many cases of mass death of tree bean trees have been observed in the North-East region, seriously affecting the socio-economic situation of the growers.
Mere production of the crop (tree bean) and its exorbitantly high price has made the common men unable to afford it and many indigenous people have been deprived of its taste.
“Thus, there is an urgent need for scientific and biotechnological interventions for strategizing short term as well as long term plans for the socio-economic impact, propagation and sus- tainable production of this important tree, both in the hills and the plains of the State.”, she added.
She lauded the scientists and experts of the College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University who along with the State Agriculture Department have already taken up research and investigations into the cause of the widespread drying of Yongchak trees.
The Governor further exuded confidence that the scientists and experts from various parts of the country will certainly explore ways and means and exchange views to save the species (tree bean) from extinction during the seminar.
Outer Manipur MP Dr Lorho S Pfoze who participated as a guest of honour expressed worry that the continuous degradation of nature by human beings has adversely impacted on he indispensable relationship/link between men and nature thereby increasing global warming and climate change.
Saying that human exploitation of nature is too much and the destruction has been rising, Pfoze urged all to go back to conserving nature for the sake of future generations.
The MP maintained that the responsibility of conserving nature cannot be left only to Government and certain departments and added that each and every individual in the society should take equal responsibility.   
Delivering presidential speech, MU VC-in-charge Professor Amar Yumnam stated that universities and research institutes have no value if they cannot link with the common people and contribute towards resolving issues and problems which emerge in the society.
He went on to say that the seminar was organised in view of the importance of its topic/subject.    
CAU, Imphal VC Dr Anupam Mishra, ICAR, Imphal Joint Director Dr I Meghachandra Singh, CSIR-NEIST, Imphal, and Senior Principal Scientist Dr H Birkumar Singh attended the seminar as guests of honour.
Many scientists and representatives from CAU, Imphal, Manipur Organic Mission Agency and Apunba Imagi Machasing, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Indian Council of Agricultural Research spoke as resource persons during the technical session.