ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya organized a Community Awareness-cum Tree Plantation and Fish Ranching Programme on the occasion of World Environment Day, 2024, celebrated under the theme – “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience” with the aim to sensitize the tribal farming community towards the degrading land and environmental health and to foster sense of responsibility towards environmental conservation, restoration of degraded lands via tree plantation programme and to create awareness among the tribal farming communities in mitigation of drought and soil moisture stress under the changing climate in this fragile hilly ecosystem.
        The programme was sponsored by the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya. A total of fifty six (56) participants comprising of twenty two (22) numbers of participants from Sumer Umbang Upper Primary School and thirty four (34) farmers participated in the event. Specifically, a total of thirty four (34) female participated in the event.
        The program was chaired by Dr. S. Hazarika, Nodal Officer, TSP and In-charge, Director of the Institute. The program was started by a welcoming remark from Mr. Anthony Sumer, a resident of Sumer Umbang Village, followed by a remark from Dr. S. Hazarika, highlighting the importance of World Environment Day celebration in relation to maintain a balanced ecosystem by judicious use of available resources and conservation of soil and water resources in the region. He also addressed the urgent need for restoration of degraded lands in Meghalaya through tree plantation programme as well as adoption of climate resilient technologies such as IFS models to re-orient the Jhum cultivation to sustainable farming system.
        On this Occasion, different Scientists namely Mrs. M. Prabha Devi, Dr. N. Raju Singh, Dr. Y. Bijen Kumar, Dr. S. Gojendro, Dr. A. Balusamy, Mr. Praveen G and Technical Officer, Mr. Prasanta Mahanta delivered different lectures pertaining to the prevailing land degradation, deteriorating environmental health, conservation and climate change adaptation and mitigation approaches. Farmers were also sensitized about the different ecosystem services rendered by the forest and overall benefits of the tree in human society stating from oxygen production to end timber production. A total numbers of 500 tree saplings encompassing, Tree bean (Parkia roxburghii), Michelia (Michelia champaca), Poma (Chukrasia tubularis), Gamhar (Gmelina arborea) Jack fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) and Organe (Citrus spp.) were distributed to Dorbar Shnong Sumer, Umbang Ri-Bhoi, District and Seraphina Home (old age home) Byrwa Village, Sumer. Apart from this 2100 number of fish fingerlings such as Rohu, Common carps, Gonius, Mrigal and Puntius were distributed among the farmers for ranching in the natural stream. The programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Mr. Arkini Sumer, Dorbar Shnong Sumer, Umbang Ri-Bhoi, District and appreciated the efforts made by ICAR NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya for successful organizing of the event and creating awareness to different stakeholders regrading environment conservation and natural resources.