A live Web Telecast of the Inauguration of International Millet Conference by Hon’ble Prime Minister and Stakeholders Interface on Millets for Food and Nutrition was arranged at ICAR- Central Tuber Crops Research Institute today (18th, March 2023). Dr. Suma Divakar, Professor, Department of Community Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram has delivered an awareness talk on ‘Value addition of Millets for Health and food security’ during the interface. More than 100 farmers, students, staff of ICAR-CTCRI and other stakeholders attended the programme..

International Women's Day (IWD) 2023 is celebrated at ICAR- Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram on March 8th to create awareness for the social, economic, cultural, and political upliftment of women. The theme for this year’s Women’s Day, according to the United Nations, is "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality" and it aims to emphasise the importance of technology in bringing gender issues to light. Dr.G.Byju, Director ICAR-CTCRI in his presidential address pointed out that CTCRI has more than 30 percent strength of women employees and congratulated the women achievers of the Institute. He also declared a research excellence award for women employees for the next year.

Indian Patent Office in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization conductedone day International Seminar on PCT at ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute on 3 March 2023to promote the awareness in respect of protecting the intellectual property and innovations globally through Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Dr. G. Byju, Director ICAR-CTCRI in his presidential address emphasized the importance of intellectual property rights for innovations. Ms. Lisa Jorgenson, Deputy Director General,Patents and Technology Sector, World IntellectualProperty Organization (WIPO), Geneva in her video address stated the increasing trend of patent filing in Asian countries and holding a share of 66 % of the world filing during 2022. At present the efiling system is cost effective and WIPO is committed to innovators for providing help in filing and protecting their rights globally. Ms. Christine Bonvallet, Director, PCT International, Cooperation Division, Patents and TechnologySector, WIPO, in her special address highlighted the steady growth of PCT filing in India in recent years and the growth of 60 % in last decade and the role of WIPO in achieving this.

ICAR-CTCRI has signed an MoU with Digital University of Kerala (DUK). It is the very first time DUK had an MoU with a Research and Development institute. Based on the MoU, PhD students from the University will be allotted to CTCRI and also National and International collaborative research programmes of common interest will be developed in future.Dr.Saji Gopinath, Vice Chancellor, DUK and Dr. G. Byju, Director, CTCRI signed the MoU in the presence of Deans and higher officials of the University and in the functionDr. T. Makeshkumar, Principal Scientist and Scientist-in charge PME cell, CTCRI also attended.

The ICAR – Central Tuber Crops Research Institute has signed an MoU with the Uzhavoor Mythri Farmer Producer Company Limited March 1, 2023 to transfer the technology for commercial production of fried snack food from cassava. The MoU was signed by Dr. G. Byju, Director, ICAR-CTCRI with Shri. Georgekutty Joseph, Chairman, Uzhavoor Mythri FPC in the presence of Dr. A.N. Jyothi, Head, Department of Crop Utilization, Dr. T. Makes Kumar, , Scientist- in-charge, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of ICAR-CTCRI, Dr. M.S. Sajeev, Principal Scientist, Department of Crop Utilization & inventor, Dr. J. Sreekumar, Head, Department of Extension & Social Sciences, ICAR-CTCRI and Dr. P. Sethuraman Sivakumar, In-charge of ITMU of ICAR-CTCRI.

CTCRI Vision 2050 provides an oppurtunity to evaluate the relevance of tropical tuber crops in food security by introspecting the accomplishment and visualizing the challenges this sector may face in future. It also critically examines possible scenario of operating environment.