TUBER CROPS DAY 2014 commemorating THIRUKARTHIKA day
The Indian Society for Root Crops (ISRC) and the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) organized the TUBER CROPS DAY 2014 commemorating THIRUKARTHIKA day on 5th December, 2014 at CTCRI campus, Thiruvananthapuram at 10.30 am. Dr.JT. Sherieff , Vice President ,ISRC delivered the welcome address. Presiding over the function Dr.S.K.Chakrabarti, Director, CTCRI. Talked about the importance of tuber crops and its contribution towards food security. He also stated that the CTCRI is the only research institute in the world conducting research exclusively on tuber crops. He also briefed about the technologies developed by the Institute and appreciated the tuber crop farmers . Prof. George Varghese, Director, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Thiruvananthapuram, inaugurated the programme. In his inaugural address he appreciated the farmers for doing tuber crops cultivation and contributing to the food security of the country through their efforts. He also appreciated the research works done by the institute and for celebrating the Thrrikartika day as Tuber crops Day. The key note address was delivered by Dr.M. Chandradathan, Director, VSSC (ISRO) Thiruvananthapuram. He has briefed about the importance of Tuber crops day. He told that the passion towards agriculture need to be brought about in the younger generation. He also talked about the advantages and disadvantages of the GM crops. He also highlighted the role of communication satellites in disaster management and providing weather reports which is beneficial to the farmers and public. In this occasion Dr. C.S. Ravindran,Head, Crop Production and Dr. M.Anantharaman, Head, extension and social sciences were felicitated for their contribution for the growth and development of the tuber crops. Shri. Balachandran Nair, President -, Sangha Mythiri and Shri. Ramachandran , from Peyad were felicitated for popularising tuber crops cultivation in Kerala. Dr. V.S.Santhosh Mithra, Secretary ISRC proposed the vote of thanks. In continuation with this, a scientist farmer interaction session was also organized. Shri. K. Jyothishkumar, Doordarshan Kendra, Thiruvanathapuram served as the moderator. The doubts and queries raised by the farmers were replied by the scientists of the Institute. Farmers were taken around the experimental fields and laboratories and were made aware about the quality planting material production using rapid multiplication techniques, cassava based bio-pesticides to manage crop pests and product diversification and value addition in tuber crops. Around 250 farmers from different districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu participated in this day long celebration. The farmers were also provided with Thirukarthika kit at nominal cost. (S.K.CHAKRABARTI)
Fruits of research should benefit farmers: VSSC chief
Thiruvananthapuram: A leading space scientist on Friday observed that fruits of research and development, including those propelled by ISRO, should benefit the farmers for making a leap in agricultural production in the country.
Delivering the key-note address at the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) here on the 'tuber crops day', M Chandradathan, Director Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), said surplus production of farm produce was not only vital for food security but also for industrial growth as agriculture provided important raw materials.
Chandradathan noted that though the ISRO was widely known for its successful launches including the Mars Orbiter Mangalyaan, the space agency also played a crucial role in developing technologies that helped farmers.
The success in developing remote sensing applications was a case in point as they helped forecast weather changes and natural disasters like cyclones or excessive rainfall, he said.
Inaugurating the function, Dr George Varghese, Director of the State Council for Science Technology and Environment, said causing stress on earth by excessive use of pesticides and other pollutants would spell doom for agriculture and upset the food security.
Recalling that in the past farmers used to take great care to protect the land they tilled from environmental degradation, he said good practices like organic cultivation should be promoted by scientific institutions.
Presiding over the function, S K Chakrabarti, Director CTCRI, said increasing productivity of tuber crops was vital since they formed a major component of the food basket in the country.
The researches carried out by CTCRI had contributed significantly in increasing the productivity of a variety of tuber crops, which were an important dietary supplement after cereal.
The inaugural session was followed by an interaction between scientists and farmers.
