Under NEH sub-plan, a three-day training programme on “Plant genetic resources (PGR) conservation cum entrepreneurship development on apiculture and mushroom cultivation” in collaboration with College of Horticulture, CAU, Thenzawl, Mizoram was organized at Thenzawl (Mizoram) from March 18-20, 2025. A total of 150 farmers (80% women) from the nearby villages have participated in the training programme. The training programme was inaugurated by Mr. Paul L Khuma, DC Serchhip, Mizoram as chief guest and Dr. Shri Dhar, Dean, College of Horticulture (CAU), Thenzawl (Mizoram) welcomed the chief guest and farmer participants. In his welcome address, he explained the purpose of this training programme and progress made in the college during his tenure. He ensured that the faculty of the college will always be available to help the farmers in providing necessary guidance and to resolve the difficulties related to availability of quality planting material, diseases & pests, nursery techniques of fruits and vegetables cultivation in the state. As per training schedule, faculties of college Dr. Lalhmingsanga, delivered talk on nursery management and scientific cultivation of summer & kharif vegetables; Dr. E. Lalruatsangi on planning of orchard, pit digging for planting of fruit crops, orchard floor management practices and benefits and disadvantages of orchard floor management; Ms. Felihrin, imparted training on packages and practises of fruits and vegetable cultivation and Mrs. Esther on techniques of mushroom cultivation to the farmers. Dr. KC Bhatt and Dr. PK Malav, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi have also delivered talk on the plant genetic resources management and the farmers were made aware about the importance and need for their conservation. Highlighting the importance of NEH as a hotspot of biodiversity, holds genetic resources of various crops and wild useful species are considered as an important source of genes for using in development of new varieties. They advised that the farming communities should make efforts for on-farm/in-situ conservation of these resources as due to various factors including climate change, we may lose them in time to come. During interactive session, the queries raised by farmers related to diseases, cultivation practices, quality planting material were also resolved by the experts. At the end, the farmers were distributed seeds kit, mushroom kit, planting material, improved varieties of mango and papaya and farm equipment. The training was well received by the farmers and DC, Serchhip has also appreciated the efforts done collectively by ICAR-NBPGR and College of Horticulture in such remote areas and asked to conduct such training programme in other parts of the state as well.
