Awareness-cum-Training Programme on Plant Genetic Resources Conservation for Improving Nutritional and Livelihood Security of Farmers and Promotion of Natural Fibres

2nd February 2023, Barrackpore

ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi in collaboration with ICAR- ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore organized an Awareness-cum-Training Programme on Plant Genetic Resources Conservation for Improving Nutritional and Livelihood Security of Farmers and Promotion of Natural Fibres (02-03 February 2023) at ICAR-CRIJAF campus, Barrackpore. The main objective of the training programme organized under SCSP was to create awareness among the SC farmers regarding the conservation and proper utilization of traditional crop varieties and promote natural fibres to improve the nutritional and livelihood security of farmers.

The Chief Guest, Shri Dhrubajyoti De, I.P.S., Joint Commissioner, Kolkata Police in his address highlighted the role of ICAR organizations in developing agricultural technologies to make the country self-sufficient in food production and obtaining food security. He urged the farmers to adopt new technologies vis-a-vis maintaining the traditional crop varieties to create diversity and maintain sustainability in crop production under adverse climatic conditions.

The Guest of Honour, Shri Sourav Barik, SDO, Barrackpore exhorted that inclusive development of SC farmers is required for which skill development of farmers and farm women is also essential to generate extra family income.

Dr Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR- CRIJAF highlighted major objectives of the programme and said the visibility of ICAR will increase if the institutes work in such collaborations for proper utilization of the resources for the upliftment of agriculture and farm families.  He emphasised that the ban on plastics has paved the way for natural fibres which the farmers must encash by adopting new technologies to harness the potential yield of the jute varieties. He reiterated that the institute is emphasizing total value chain development from seed to market, in this endeavour few SHGs have established their business products and diversified product under the guidance of ICAR-CRIJAF. He also urged the farmers to take full advantage of skill development centre and MSME-business incubation centre of the institute.  

Dr. S. K. Malik, PS and Nodal Officer, SCSP, ICAR-NBPGR highlighted the importance of the training programme for the farmers and different inputs to be distributed. He said  the farmers can get benefitted by conserving the traditional germplasm of the crops.

Dr. M.S. Behera, PS and Nodal Officer, SCSP, ICAR-CRIJAF briefed about the objective of this training.

More than 200 farmers and SHG members attended the lectures on the theme of the training and interacted with the scientists during the training programme. All the participants received the certificate of participation and the farm inputs during the valedictory session.

(Source: ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore)