IMPHAL, May 22: The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India has awarded Potshangbam Devakanta a farmer from Manipur with “Plant Genome Savior” award 2012 along with a cash award of Rs.1,00,000.00, a citation and memento on May 22.
Devakanta`s name was at the top among the award category of 10 awardee farmers making him the first such awardee in the entire north-east part of India.
This award was given to him for his efforts to conserve and preserve several indigenous rice varieties of the Manipur valley.
He is the president of a NGO, AMAPCON (All Manipur Trained Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Promoter Consortium).