The centre was inaugurated under ‘The Marti Project, which is a collaborative endeavour between Happy In Khol and Midas Touch, marking the initial stride towards fostering a resourceful and resilient community, stated a release.

While the workshop centered on ‘Seed saving and Sharing of Collective Knowledge’ aimed to address the imperative of conserving plant genetic diversity, the necessity for local food security, enhancing community resilience through grassroot initiatives and underscore the significance of seed preservation and the practice of seed storage, it asserted.

Resource persons stressed the significance of ‘act of planting and cultivation’ of local seeds in the process of saving one’s indigenous seeds from disappearing during the workshop supported by Henry Marlyn Institute (HMI) Hyderabad, International Centre for Research, Interfaith Relation and Reconciliation, it said.

Retd SMS, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Sagolsem Sumangol Singh and seed guardians Potshangbam Devakanta , Yumnam Ranjit and Sapam Lukhoi led the first day of the workshop, it mentioned. Various activities such as film screenings on related issues along with Khulang esei, a traditional folk song, based on planting paddy was presented by the women folk of Umathel, it added.

Deliberations on seed and its importance, challenges and way forward to efficient ways of community seed banking, and approaches for more efficient ways of promoting the indigenous seeds were held during the technical sessions of the workshop, it added. Exchange of seeds among participants, distribution of seeds by CSB were the main highlights of the valedictory event, it stated. Around 30 participants attended the workshop, it added.