ICAR-CTCRI celebrates 56th Foundation Day

27^th July 2019, Thiruvananthapuram

ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute celebrated its 56^th Foundation Day here today.

Shri. Justice (Retd.) P. Sathasivam, Honourable Governor of Kerala, in his inaugural address, emphasized that agriculture should not be considered just as an occupation, but as a means to ensure food and nutritional security. The key to food security is to “strengthen the primary sector”, he added. Justice Sathasivam apprised the importance of integrating roots and tubers for sustainable livelihoods under the scenario of global climate change. He urged the scientific community that research should offer significant long-lasting solutions for the farmers to bank upon. He also exhorted to reduce the “distance” between policies and scientific research to ensure better access to benefits and research outputs for the farmer. Hon’ble Governor stressed upon the need for “credible technologies” to ensure better health, wealth and inclusive growth for farmers. He also appreciated the newly installed energy saving solar power project.

He also inaugurated the Farmers Facilitation Centre and Solar Roof Top Project in the campus.

 A publication titled “ICAR-CTCRI a look at its journey” was released and Best Employee Awards were presented by the Hon’ble Governor.

Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), in his presidential reiterated the urgent need for doubling the farmers’ income (DFI) by 2022, the flagship programme of Govt. of India. The ICAR has adopted two villages in every district, thus covering 1400 villages for DFI. He elaborated the action plan for doubling the farmer’s income through advanced technological interventions for minimising the farm inputs to reduce the production cost. To achieve this, he focussed on various strategies like crop diversification, efficient use of water by drip irrigation, fertigation, water conservation measures to reduce water foot print, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and sustainable integrated farming system models, use of solar energy and  sensor technology in agriculture. Further, in this context, he also mentioned about the Jal Shakthi Abhiyan of Govt. of India covering 256 water stress districts as a welcome step. Dr. Mohapatra also informed that greater emphasis should be given on biofortification of crops to improve the nutritional quality. The ICAR has released 35 biofortified varieties, including two varieties of sweet potato, Bhu Sona and Bhu Krishna, enriched with beta carotene and anthocyanin respectively. Finally he concluded that the benefits of the technologies should also be translated through strong research-farmer-industry-consumer continuum.

Dr. Anand Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Science), ICAR, New Delhi, highlighted that tuber crops contributed 6% of the total vegetable production of the country. Research should focus on development of biofortified varieties, technologies for DFI and strategies to combat malnutrition and poverty. He appreciated the efforts of the Institute in developing 67 varieties and 30 technologies.

Dr. Archana Mukherjee, Director, ICAR-CTCRI delivered the welcome address and Dr. V. Ravi, Principal Scientist  & Head, Division of Crop Production proposed the vote of thanks.

The exchange of MoUs between the Start-up entrepreneurs and ICAR-CTCRI and honouring of the Start-up entrepreneurs were the other highlights of the programme. Exhibition stalls showcasing the various activities of ICAR Institutes in Kerala were also arranged during the occasion.

About 75 farmers participated in the Foundation Day Celebrations and visited the research laboratories, fields and interacted with the Scientists of ICAR-CTCRI and other ICAR Institutes in Kerala.

(Source: ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute)