National Conference on Tropical Tuber Crops organises at ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute

28th – 29th November 2023, Thiruvananthapuram

A two-day National Conference on 'Tropical Tuber Crops for Sustainability, Tradition, Agri-Food Systems & Resilience' to commemorate the diamond jubilee celebrations of CTCRI in collaboration with Indian Society for Root Crops was organised at ICAR – Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram during 28th -29th November 2023. The aim of the conference is to understand the scope and importance of tropical tuber crops among various stakeholders including researchers, farming community and policy makers.

Dr. B Neeraja Prabhakar, Vice Chancellor, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, Telangana, inaugurated the conference. She emphasised the importance of tuber crops, which are of high productivity and with huge scope for bio-fortification in achieving sustainable development goals of zero hunger and poverty. Dr. Prabhakar stressed upon the need for disease free quality planting materials and also exploitation of the non-traditional areas for crop area expansion.

Dr. R. Dinesh, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode was the Guest of Honour for the inaugural function. He mentioned the concept of ‘One ICAR’ and the encapsulated strains of three bio-capsules jointly developed by CTCRI & IISR.

Dr. G. Byju, Director, ICAR-CTCRI, detailed the achievements, issues and way forward for tropical tuber crops research development and emphasised the concerted research activities in ICAR-CTCRI, which resulted in the highest productivity of cassava in the world. He pointed out an annual productivity growth rate of 4% achieved for cassava during past 60 years is a great achievement. Dr. Byju stressed the need to elevate the status of sweet potatoes as a super-food.

About 200 delegates including internationally reputed Virologist Dr. Stephan Winter, scientists, faculties, and students from across various States/Union territories participated in the event.

(Source: ICAR – Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram)