New Delhi, June 02: Exploring and venturing into Manipur�s fauna and flora in the last many years, Shri Wahengbam Ibotombi Singh of Sagolband Moirang Leirak, Imphal has shown the way for finding a marketplace for Manipur�s fauna and flora in the global perspective. A sericulturist by profession, Ibotombi was among 20 winners of social innovators of the India Development Marketplace (IDM) 2007 on the theme: Grassroots Initiatives for Management and Protection of Natural Resources announced by the World Bank in a solemn function held at the World Bank premises here on Monday last, which was attended by the President of India Dr.Abdul Kalam. He was honoured for his innovative concept on �Utilisation of wetland through organic farming for vegetable production: Ekaithabi (Nepunenia oleracea)�.

He was selected from among 2500 entries. The World Bank invited fifty of the most innovative and potentially viable proposals selected as finalists through a highly transparent, systematic and rigorous assessment process to attend and exhibit their proposals at the Marketplace.

From these 50 proposals, the jury selected 19 winners on the day of the event.

The 20th winner was picked up by popular vote and given the People�s Choice Award.

The winners received the Indian Rupee equivalent of US $ 20,000 as a startup grant to implement the concept within a twoyear period. The World Bank�s Delhi Office hosted the second India Development Marketplace 2007 with the objective to identify and support small and innovative development projects that manage precious natural resources efficiently.

The first IDM was held in the year 2004 on the theme: �Improve Rural Services: Access and Quality� and 20 winners were selected from 1500 entries. About his innovative concept, Wahengbam Ibotombi Singh said, � The proposal will restore rapidly degrading wetlands by encouraging the cultivation of water mimosa or Ekaithabi (Nepunenia oleracea) through sustainable means.

The vegetable is readily marketable, has long been believed to have high medicinal value, and will encourage growers to keep the wetlands free from garbage and encroachments.� Mention may be made that Ibotombi promoted indigenous flower: THARO (Water lily) at the 2nd International Flora Expo 2006 at Pragati Maidan here on September 8-10 last year.

He believes in innovation and maximum utilization of locally available plants. Shri Ibotombi is currently the vicepresident of the Floritech Society of Manipur set up in the year 2004 with an aim for preserving and marketing the endemic flowers of Manipur like Kundo, Mallika, Thaballei, Jatikuppi etc belonging to jasmine species, Urirei, Madhabi and local orchids.

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