National seminar on plant diversity at Immanuel College

January 31, 2023 83 Views No Comment

Dimapur, January 31 (MExN): The Department of Botany, Immanuel College with the sponsorship from the Government of Nagaland, organised a one-day National Seminar on the topic ‘Plant Diversity and Human Welfare: North- East India’ on January 30 at the College Conference Hall.

In the keynote address, Dr Hui Tag, Professor, Department of Botany, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh, briefed on the rich biodiversity of plant species in North- East India. Stating that the region is a Global Diversity Hotspot, where around 8000 plant species out of 45000 plant species in India, are found in the North- East region, he said that the region’s location in the high altitude Himalayan range makes it home to many diversified plant species.

According to a press release from the IMC Media Cell, technical sessions followed thereafter, with various scholars and researchers presenting papers of their own interest based on their findings of diversified plants and their benefits as both medicinal and food source. During the first session, the papers were presented by Dr Toshinungla Ao, Asst Prof, St John College, Dimapur; Mikato Shohe, Entrepreneur, Founder of Fruit Tales, Nagaland; Dr Utpal Chowdhury, Asst Prof, PG and Research, Department of Botany, B Borooah College, Guwahati; and Dr Imsusosang Longkumer, Director, Longer Agritech, Dimapur.

The second technical session had valuable information on exploring medicinal plants, traditional methods of using ethnobotanical plants, Rhododendron, various edible plants and more insights on contamination of agricultural soil through metals and analysis on techniques of industrial organic waste.

Out of eleven paper presenters from various colleges and Universities, Tridip Boruah from Madhab Choudhury College, Barpeta, Assam, was adjudged as the best paper presenter. The session was chaired by Dr Khikeya Semy, Asst Prof, Don Bosco College, Kohima.

Earlier, the inaugural session was chaired by Lanusangla Imsing, Assist Prof, Department of Zoology, Immanuel College and Dr T Imchanochetla Changkija, Vice Principal, Immanuel College gave the welcome address, Temsutola, convenor, organising committee, Immanuel College and the valedictory speech by Dr Jichule Seb, co-convenor, organising committee, the release stated.