Germplasm Conservation & Propagation Centre, TOSEHIM

Regional Orchid Germplasm Conservation & Propagation Centre (Assam Circle) is one of the largest and most successful germplasm conservation centre in the state of Assam and whole of NE India. It was established in the year 1994 and since then it has been attracting several nature enthusiasts, orchid lovers, growers, students and researchers across, for multitude of motives. It hosts about 200 orchids distributed in Assam, about 250 from the neighbouring regions of India and several others from other South Asian countries. The centre also has several other important plants such as Pandanus, Begonia, etc. However, special attention is provided to native, lower elevational species, as concerned to the specificity of the plants and area. It now spans an area of 1.5 hectares, spacing 03 greenhouses and providing natural habitat for several epiphytic orchids. This is a part of the society formed in 2012, devoted to documenting and conserving the orchids of Eastern Himalaya "The Orchid society of Eastern Himalaya". The society has one more centre with similar ideas of it in Kalimpong, West Bengal for the temperate species managed by Dr. Rajendra Yonzone.

However, with the expansion of threat to more and more plants other than orchids, the centre also holds plans to incorporate other groups of plants to encompass a wider umbrella for conservation.

How to Reach: Daisa Bordoloi Nagar, Bordoloi Nagar, Talap, Tinsukia, Assam. It is 34 kms away from Tinsukia, and 8 km from Doomdoma town.

About the manager

Mr. Khyanjeet Gogoi, a botany graduate and ardent researcher who holds and manages the Assam Circle centre. Mr. Gogoi has described five taxa new to science so far, and more than 10 new records for the country as well. Providing extensive contribution to the Orchid wealth of two neighbouring states: Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, he has been recognized as the first Indian Research Fellow by McAllen International Orchid Society, USA and awarded the Arun Pandey Biodiversity Award, by East Himalayan Society of Spermatophyte Taxonomy. Scaling from the deep dense jungles to the high alpine meadows, he has observed and studied thousands of orchids in the region. His most important and valuable contribution is the compilation of "Orchids of Assam" among four other books. He currently teaches Biology in Rupai High School, Rupai, Tinsukia, Assam.

Profiles: Researchgate; efloraofindia; IPNI; facebook

Mr. Gogoi in News: The Indian EXPRESS; The Assam Tribune; The Telegraph

Germplasm Conservation & Propagation Centre at a glance

The centre has three greenhouses (A central one with wider area and space and two subsidiary ones), holding more than 800 tropical orchids. Along with that a nursery for ornamentals is also attached.