National Consultation Meeting on Sapota at NAU, Navsari

29^th September, 2015, Navsari

The “National Consultation Meeting on Sapota” was jointly organized by ICAR-AICRP on Fruits and the Navsari Agricultural University at Navsari (Gujarat), on September 29, 2015.

In his presidential address, Dr. C. J. Dangaria, Vice-Chancellor, NAU emphasized the problems associated with marketing and processing of sapota, which were the major issues related to sapota cultivation in Gujarat.

Dr. T. Janakiram appreciated the efforts of NAU in organizing this joint venture. In his inaugural speech, Dr. Janakiram emphasized the important researchable issues in relation to sapota, such as post-harvest management and use of micronutrients and crop regulation, which are areas yet to be addressed.

Dr. Prakash Patil, Project Coordinator (Fruits), gave a brief presentation about the scenario of sapota cultivation in the country and also spoke about the genesis of the consultation meeting.

All the stakeholders of sapota viz. policy makers, farmers, co-operative societies, self-help groups related to processing and traders were brought together on a common platform during the meet. Fruitful interactions were conducted among the stakeholders, scientists and policy makers. An exhibition of the different sapota varieties, as well as of the processed products from farmers and SHGs, was also organized.

A total of 100 delegates from the SAU-based and the ICAR-institute-based centres of AICRP, research scholars, progressive farmers, SHGs and presidents of the growers associations participated.

(Source: Project Coordinator (Fruits), ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru)