On the last day of the programme, trainees and those who did not get a chance to attend the programme expressed the desire to host such a programme on a regular basis as the region is situated in the neglected parts of the Indo-Myanmar border.
TFM Desk
A Two-day outreach cum training on Aromatic Oil Extraction programme” held at Huishu Village, Ukhrul District, organised by Mikpingla Industries (MPI) and Ukhrul Hills Development Foundation (UHDF) funded by the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), government of India, was concluded on January 9 (Saturday).
The programme was organised under the leadership and direction of IBSD director Prof Pulok Kumar Mukherjee, at the directive of MPI and UHDF managing director Ningchui G Shatsang. 16 staff from IBSD and about 100 trainees from 6 different villages including Huishu village, Poi village and Khamasom area attended the programme.
During the function, Raja Shekhar, a scientist and a resource person, elaborated the comprehensive research related activities of IBSD. Besides the available medicinal herbs and other horticulture items, he encouraged the locals to plant lemon grass which will be a good alternative means of revenue in the region as the oil extracted from lemon grass can be used to make perfume and the grass itself can be used as green tea.
Another resource person of the function Nanaocha Sharma, a scientist at IBSD, addressed the possible business potential of the region if the available natural resources are utilized wisely and further assured to provide 1 lakh saplings of lemon grass by early March, 2021 to the trainees. He further said more number of outreach and training programmes in this region will be carried out in February-March, 2021 as the region is quite suitable for various research works on flora and fauna and to ensure means of revenue for the locals in the region.
Meanwhile, Sunil Thora, a scientist at IBSD, stressed the beautiful exotic landscape and rich biodiversity of the region which can be converted into revenue for the locals. He said that the beauty and scenic view would attract a fair amount of tourists from different places including foreigners, if the locals provide a good homestay.
He also said that the land in the region is very fertile and will be suitable for various horticultural crops including lemon, avocado, orange and others which can be done as value addition and further export to different states too.
The programme was also attended by YRP managing director Yaruingam Ningshen as a resource person in which he extensively described the importance of entrepreneurship and its role towards community and nation building.
While nutritionist Chagmei Ningshen, another resource person, drew the attention of the trainees as she gave proper directions on eating and drinking habits. She further said that everything we eat or drink requires certain guidance or direction given by a dietician. Otherwise what we eat or drink will soon eat or drink us, she added.
On the last day of the programme, trainees and those who did not get a chance to attend the programme insisted on the organisers and IBSD team to organise such programme on a regular basis as the region is situated at the Indo-Myanmar border and is often neglected due to which people in the area have been suffering a lot.
Huishu-Khamsom-Poi area falls relatively in a very remote and difficult category in the region. There is no black-top road connectivity to Huishu village, nor a bailey bridge constructed on the Challou River. Whoever wants to visit the village has to cross the approximately 50 metres river wide. On the last day of the programme, staff of IBSD also went for empirical research to the nearby forest and collected samples of insects and horticultural items. The two days outreach cum training programme was harmoniously concluded on Saturday afternoon.