“State Level Workshop-cum-Exhibition of Tree Bean (Parkia timoriana)” organized

16^th March, 2022, Imphal, Manipur

The two-day “State Level Workshop-cum-Exhibition of Tree Bean (Yongchak)” organized by the ICAR-Research Complex for North-Eastern Hills Region, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat, Imphal, Manipur from 15^th to 16^th March, 2022 concluded today.

The Workshop was organized in collaboration with the Manipur University, CAU, IBSD, CSIR-NEIST, MOMA, NABARD and AIMS.

The Chief Guest, Dr. V.K. Mishra, Director, ICAR Research Complex for North-Eastern Hills Region, Umiam, Meghalaya stressed on the urgent need of research interventions in Tree Bean in the form of characterization of exact etiology of decline, development of high-throughput management practices, tree canopy management, breeding & biotechnological interventions to shorten the gestation period, and the development of bioactive functional food items, etc. The pivotal roles that can be played by the women folks in the scientific and social approaches for the promotion and protection of the Tree Bean were also highlighted by Dr. Mishra.

The Guest of Honor, Dr. H. Birkumar Singh, Head, CSIR-NEIST regarded the Tree Bean as an important component of the local cuisine attracting the high initial seasonal cost upto Rs. 100 per Tree Bean Pod.

The Guest of Honor, Dr. S. Basanta Singh, Director of Instruction, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur emphasized on the big business opportunities of the Tree Bean in Manipur.

The Guest of Honor, Prof. Pulok Kumar Mukherjee, Director, IBSD briefed about the phyto-pharmaceutical properties of the Tree Bean and the various products that can be produced from its plant.

The Guest of Honor, Dr. Brajakumar, Joint Director, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur stressed on the need and importance for the conservation of Tree Bean in the State. The formation of a scientific and community approach to ascertain the science behind the declining of the Tree Bean production was also stressed by Dr. Brajakumar.

The Guest of Honor, Prof. Amar Yumnam, Former Vice-Chancellor, Manipur University, Imphal, Manipur highlighted the need for making the strong linkages between the scientific and farming communities for designing a long term strategic research for the conservation of Tree Bean in the State.

Shri M. Khelendro, President, AIMS, Manipur also marked the presence as the Guest of Honor during the occasion.

The main objectives of the Workshop-cum-Exhibition were to document the variability of the Tree Bean (Parkia timoriana) locally known as Yongchak available in the State, to identify the real issues of its decline and design the strategic research & development programme for the mass plantations and production to save the plant.

(Source: ICAR-Research Complex for North-Eastern Hills Region, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat, Imphal, Manipur)