Imphal: A three-day Northeast Indigenous Plant Seeds Festival hits Imphal this winter. The event runs from December 16 to 18, 2026, at Central Agricultural University in Iroisemba. Organizers aim to save local crop varieties from extinction.
The All Manipur Trained Medical and Aromatic Plants Promoters Consortium is running the show. They are working with Bharat Beej Swaraj Manch, the Centre for Organisation Research and Education, and ActionAid India. AMAPCON president Potsangbam Devkanta announced the event at a press conference on Friday. The theme for the gathering is, "Plant Seeds for Peace and Harmony: Our Common Heritage, Cultivating Climate Resilience through Culture and Traditions."
Devkanta warned that chemical farming and development pressures are killing off native plants. He believes the region's agricultural heritage remains under threat. The festival hopes to boost sustainable food systems and empower tribal farmers. It builds on the momentum of the 2019 National Indigenous Seeds Festival.
Key officials are backing the push. Organizing committee chairman and Keishamthong MLA Nishikant Sapam attended the announcement. Cultural activist Mutua Bahadur, agricultural expert Meitalkeishangbam Thoithoi, and CSIR-NEIST Chief Scientist Dr. Huidrom Birkumar also appeared to support the initiative.
Comments