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Fagopyrum 37(1):25-26 (2020)
DOI https://doi.org/10.3986/fag0015
Note on the 14th International Symposium  
on Buckwheat at North-Eastern Hill University, 
Shillong, India from Sept. 3 to 6, 2019.
Ivan KREFT
The Department of Botany, North-Eastern Hill University 
(NEHU), Shillong, India in collaboration with ICAR-Na-
tional Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), India, 
and DBT-Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable De-
velopment (IBSD), India organized the 14th International 
Symposium on Buckwheat at North-Eastern Hill Univer-
sity, Shillong from Sept. 3 to 6, 2019 at North Eastern 
Hill University, Shillong. The Symposium was organized 
under the ageis of International Buckwheat Research 
Association on the theme "DIVERSIFYING FOOD SYS-
TEMS FOR HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL SECURITY". 
Prof. S. K. Srivastava, Vice Chancellor, North-Eastern 
Hill University was the Chief Patron of the Organizing 
Committee. Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, Depart-
ment of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry 
of Agriculture Govt. of India and Director General, Indi-
an Council for Agricultural Research, Govt. of India was 
the Chairman of the International Scientific Advisory 
Committee of the Symposium. Prof. Nikhil Chrungoo of 
NEHU was the Organizing Secretary of the Symposium.  
Dr. J.C. Rana of Bioversity International and Dr. Aijaz Ah-
mad Wani of University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India were 
the Joint Secretaries of the Symposium. Sh. Tathagata 
Roy, Hon’ble Governor of the Indian province of Megha-
laya, graced the Inaugural function of the Symposium 
as the Chief guest and   inaugurated the symposium. 
26
Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE), Ministry of 
Agriculture Govt. of India and DG, ICAR, New Delhi was 
the Guest of Honour in the inaugural function. Prof. S. 
K. Srivastava, Vice Chancellor, North-Eastern Hill Uni-
versity, Shillong spoke about importance of Buckwheat 
as a food crop and also its importance in culture. Dr. T. 
Mohapatra spoke on the importance of underutilized 
crops such as Buckwheat in mitigating nutritional inse-
curity of people. Sh. Tathagata Roy, the Hon’ble Gover-
nor of Meghalaya spoke on the importance of buckwheat 
as a food crop and the need to promote its utilization 
by masses. Prof. O. Ohnishi, Emeritus Professor, Kyoto 
University, Japan was conferred "Life time achievement 
award" for his contribution towards buckwheat research. 
Sh. Tathagata Roy, the Hon’ble  Governor of Meghalaya 
presented the award to Prof. Ohnishi. Prof. Dr. Meiliang 
Zhou, of Chinese Academy of Agricultural sciences, Bei-
jing, Dr. Manoj Prasad of NIPGR, New Delhi and Dr. J. 
C. Rana of Bioversity International, New Delhi were 
conferred Golden Peacock Awards during the Inaugural 
function of the Symposium. Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, 
Secretary (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture Govt. of India 
and DG, ICAR, New Delhi presented the awards to the 
recipients. The organizing committee of the Symposium 
also included Professors and other scientists from NEHU 
and elsewhere in India, Research fellows of School of Life 
Sciences of NEHU and Graduate students of the Depart-
ment of Botany, NEHU. Prof. Nikhil Chrungoo of NEHU 
was elected by IBRA Assembly as Chairman of IBRA for 
the period of the next three years. Poland was by IBRA As-
sembly decided to be the country for organizing the next 
15th International Symposium on Buckwheat in 2022.