Raipur, 15 March 2018
Indira Gandhi Agriculture University’s Agriculture Science Centre Raipur and Plant Species and Farmer Right Authority, New Delhi had jointly organized an awareness cum farmers training held under Plant Species Conservation and Agriculture Right Act. Chairman of Plant Species Conservation and Farmer Right Authority Dr KV Prabhu said that farmers of Chhattisgarh have made significant contribution in conservation of biodiversity in the country. Farmers of Chhattisgarh have preserved many valuable and rare plant species since generations, which are today proving to be country’s valuable heritage. He praised the various measures being taken by Indira Gandhi Agriculture University for conservation of various plan species in Chhattisgarh. Dr Prabhu said that the authority is doing registration of the plant species conserved by farmers of Chhattisgarh and is in process to give rights for use of these species. On the occasion, various agriculture science centres and private farmers had put up a exhibition based on biodiversity and many farmers were felicitated for their contribution in biodiversity conservation.
Chief Guest of the programme was Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agriculture University Dr SK Patil said that Plant Specie Conservation And Farmer Rights Authority is providing rights to the farmers in various parts of the country to use the plant species conserved by them. Indira Gandhi Agriculture University’s Agriculture Science Centres are assisting in identification of farmers conserving various plant species and in providing them the right on seeds. He said that the university had sent nearly three thousand plant species to the authority for registration, out of which 1913 have been registered. Registration certificates for nearly 500 species have been provided to the farmers. Dr Patil informed that the university is making efforts to get the medicinal herbs registered in the name of related ‘Vaidy’. He said that the authority is sanctioning a project to Indira Gandhi Agriculture University for identification of medicinal herbs in Chhattisgarh. He added that with the support of the authority, such farmers training programme will be organized in all 27 districts of the state.
Member of State Planning Commission Dr DK Marothiya also addressed the programme. The guests of the occasion released a coffee table book published with the title- “Unique Varieties of Chhattisgarh’. Director (Research) of Indira Gandhi Agriculture Univserity Dr SS Rao proposed vote of thanks. On the occasion, Director Expansion Services Dr AL Rathore, Dean Agriculture College Raipur Dr OP Kashyap and heads of various departments, coordinators of agricultural science centres and a large number of farmers were present on the occasion.
