Mail News Service
Imphal, July 14: Centre for Orchid Gene Conservation of the Eastern Himalayan region was inaugurated today at Hengbung, Senapati district about 55 km from Imphal by Dr T Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Even though there are opinions about disparity in development process in the north east compared to the rest of the country, nature treats all equally. The rich biodiversity is the gift of nature and people of the region should work hard to make the endeavour to popularize orchid successful.
Dr S N Puri, VC of Central Agricultural University, Imphal said in the north east we find all sort of weather found throughout the world hence it has a rich biodiversity.
Haokholet Kipgen, former MLA said orchids are globally adored for their exceeding beautiful and long lasting flowers, having contributed significantly to the development of international trade in cut flowers and potted plants. They are also therapeutically important and used to cure a variety of human ailments. Orchids are grown as cash crop in several countries, adding to the growth of their economics.
India is rich in orchid resource; the Indian Himalayan Region alone is home to nearly one thousand species. Full realization of their economic potential has, however, remained abysmally slow due to lack of awareness about these plant and non availability of suitable planting material. Additionally the natural population in the large number of species are also progressively on decline because of natural calamities (landslips, forest fires) and unregulated habitat destruction (forest fallings, jhuming) and commercial collection pressures. Several species are being illegally sent across the borders, for example: at Manipur border with Myanmar a kilo of therapeutic orchid is sold for Rs. 300-600. This in China, under eastern medicinal system, fetches $15000 per kilo.
Prof SP Vij said about 286 species were reported in Manipur and during a recent survey new species not found elsewhere in the country were found and it is estimated that about 500 species will be found when the whole state is scanned. Orchid is extremely useful and most medicines have extracts from orchids and as the gene conservation centre is established, the gene of all the orchids found in the region will be preserved so that the future generation can know that such orchids used to grow. Most orchids are endangered due to human greed and forestation he said.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/centre-to-conserve-gene-opened-at-hengbung/
