Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) organized a program on “Promoting Women Bio-entrepreneurship in Orchid Floriculture” in collaboration with Bio Resource Development Centre (BRDC) at Umsning Block of Ri-Bhoi. During the program, Prof. Pulok Kumar Mukherjee, Director, IBSD addressed the gathering and highlighted on ‘bioeconomy from bioresources’ by synergizing several research to enable the usage of the natural resources with all its perspective of the attributes of NER for locating the region in the new and emerging bioeconomy. He mentioned that BioNEST incubator has been established by IBSD & BRDC for promoting women bio-entrepreneurship through orchids floriculture in Meghalaya with support from Biotechnology Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India. IBSD is an institute of Department of Biotechnology, which is working on the bioresource management and its sustainable development through biotechnological interventions in NER which has its presence in Imphal (Manipur), Gangtok (Sikkim), Shillong (Meghalaya) and Aizawl (Mizoram). Major thrust area of IBSD is development of bioeconomy from bioresources with special reference to NER. In this context, IBSD is synergising all its research activities & outreach programmes for societal upliftment and livelihood generation of this region. Director, IBSD mentioned that major focus of this programme is capacity building and training of women bio-entrepreneurs and farmers from different parts of Ri-Bhoi, Aspirational District of Meghalaya. Under this programme, more than 100 women entrepreneurs have been trained and encouraged for orchids cultivation and propagation. This project is implemented through a Hub and Spokes model at Umsning Block of Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya. Around 11 villages including Nongdiengngan, Nongmahir, Umshorshor, Mawser, Wahlakha, Umdiker, Umsaw, Sohdade, Sohjarang, Nongkseh and Mawparhut are being covered and targeted with his project. At present the Hub (poly-house) of 1000 sqm and ten spokes (poly-houses) of 300 sqm each has been installed at the specified sites and provided with dendrobium orchids planting materials.
Director, IBSD also highlighted about another collaborative program of IBSD & BRDC under “Himalayan Bioresource Mission” to document, evaluate and scientifically validate rich traditional knowledge of different ethnic communities of Meghalaya. In line with the exploration of bioresources, IBSD has set up the Phytopharmaceutical mission program. It is a viable platform for knowledge sharing, which require scientific validation and ethno-entrepreneurship through the use of traditional medicine and value addition through different perspectives. In this context, he urged the Government of Meghalaya to setup the phytopharmaceutical mission program to innovation leading to respect for our ‘parampara’, on the use of medicinal plants and bioresources to boost the bioeconomy of the region.
During the program, Chief Guest, Dr. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, Hon’ble Minister, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Health & Family Welfare Department, Govt. of Meghalaya dedicated the facilities established under BioNEST incubator to the beneficiaries Umsning Block of Ri-Bhoi. Hon’ble Minister also appreciated the efforts of Sister Merly Tom Kizhakhayil for training students for orchid floriculture. Guest of Honour, Dr. Celestine Lyngdoh, MLA, Umsning appreciated the collaborative efforts of IBSD & BRDC for establishing facilities in Umsning and to encourage the women for orchid floriculture. Shri Gunanka D. B., Joint Secretary, Planning Department, Govt. of Meghalaya & Member Secretary, BRDC congratulates all the beneficiaries and encouraged to promote orchid floriculture in this region. Shri Arpit Upadhyay, Deputy Commissioner, Ri-Bhoi appreciated the initiative of BRDC and IBSD for promoting floriculture in Ri-Bhoi District. During the program, Dr. J.K. Shukla and Dr Pardeep K. Bhardwaj, Scientist, IBSD presented various achievements of the project and highlighted various outreach activities for the promotion of women entrepreneurs through orchid floriculture as successful model. One of the beneficiaries, Sister Merly Tom Kizhakhayil shared her experiences as successful entrepreneurs of this project. Dr. Junie P. Lyngdoh, Scientist, BRDC congratulated all the beneficiaries and thanks all the dignitaries, BIRAC and DBT, New Delhi for all the assistance & support. The program was attended by more than 500 participants including beneficiaries, women entrepreneurs from Ri-Bhoi, students from Ferrando Centre, scientists, scholars, staffs of BRDC and IBSD, Upper Shillong, Meghalaya.