Media sensitization workshop held in Imphal

Our Correspondent IMPHAL,February 10 Giving special emphasis on the importance of horticulture in economic development, a day long media sensitization workshop was held under the aegis of Editor's Guild Manipur with support from Horticulture Mission of NE and Himalayan Region at the conference hall of State Guest house, Sanjenthong Imphal on Tuesday. The workshop later resolved with identifying the need of developing a 'Media Cell' in state horticulture department where update informational resources can be avail by the state journalists that could help in filling stories on success and challenges, new technologies and development, programmes and policy etc.The workshop was facilitated with an interaction session wherein Editor of Impact TV Rupachandra Yumnam; Group Editor of Imphal Free Press Pradip Phanjoubam; special correspondent of The Telegraph Khelen Thokchom sharers their viewpoints for the growth of the horticulture sector in the state. President of Editor's Guild, Ahongsangbam Mobi, journalists and other departmental staffs and farmers also attended the workshop. Sharing his sentiment by presenting a paper on 'the role of representation of national media for economic development' , Khelen Thokchom stressed the need of sharing the state potential in horticulture and the success stories of state farmers through media to attract and invite investors in the sector. He further said in order to write good stories and reports, the department need to inform and educate the journalists about the stakeholders, its implemented programs and policy besides future programmes to be implemented where the journalist can help feed back and analyse the issue. He also said that the state horticulture department should sought suggestion from various experts that can direct and steered the state horticulture products to the global community. He said, "Nature has given lots to us, why should we spoil in waste". He added that state is utilising only 62,200 hectares of land against the availability of 2,77,064 hectares of land that can be used for horticulture works. Lamenting the existing state affairs, he stated that many programmes meant to promote certain development sectors may be in the field of tourism or others and also to attract the investors were designed in a ‘contract-work' manner. Groupn Editor of Imphal Free Press, Padip Phanjoubam also stressed the need of partnership between the media organizations and concerned party to enhance the information flow on horticulture potential of the state to get better exposure to outside world. He also said that since the press is known to be a "multiplier force", and for a wider exposure, it is imperative to build the capacity of journalists by organising such kind of sensitization workshop and seminars on Horticultures and its related issues to make good and consumable reports. He added that after having in-depth knowledge about the subject from experts, only then journalist would be capable of writing/filing in-depth reports. He added that though most journalist knows something for everything, they need to be for the specific subjects. He also stressed the importance of developing market sense besides introducing "incubation system" and collaborative works with educational institutions of the state such as Manipur University, Central Agricultural university etc, to enhance the progress, better productivity and innovation in the horticulture sector.