‘Plant Genome Saviour Community Award’ for WKH duo

NONGSTOIN: The Nonglwai Orchid Preservation Society from West Khasi Hills bagged the Plant Genome Saviour Community Award for 2014-15. Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh handed over the award to Charles Tympuin, president of the Nonglwai Orchid Preservation Society, in a grand function in Motihari, Bihar on Wednesday.
Elbira Kharbani of the Society also received the award.
This is the second time since its inception in 2009-10 that the award has been bagged by any recipient from the northeast.
The Award is conferred by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), established by the Central Government under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001, annually on the basis of shortlisting and site verification of the applications received from the community of farmers/farming community based organizations who have a long track record for conserving plant agro-biodiversity. The Union Government had constituted a review committee in March 2017 comprising Director of ICAR and Deputy Commissioner West Khasi Hills. Upon the findings and recommendation of the committee, the Agriculture Ministry gave out the award which consists of Rs 10 lakh, a citation and a memento.
Nonglwai Orchid Preservation Society is a registered partner of the Basin Development Unit (BDU), West Khasi Hills.