QRT VISITED CTCRI TO REVIEW PAST FIVE YEAR PROGRESS

he Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) of CTCRI and All India Coordinated Research Project on Tuber Crops (AICRPTC) appointed by ICAR, New Delhi visited the institute during 8-9 October and reviewed the R&D progress of 2019-2024 period. Dr. S.D. Shikhamany, former VC, Dr.YSRHU, Andhra Pradesh, Chairman, QRT; and members Dr. S.K. Pandy, former Director, ICAR-CPRI, Shimla (online); Dr. V.S. Korikanthimath, former Director, ICAR-CCARI, Goa; Dr. Rakesh Pandey, Professor Emeritus, CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow; Prof. R. Jagan Mohan, Head, NIFTEM, Thanjavur (online); Mr. Selvaraj Manivannan, MD, Venus Tapioca Products, Salem; & Dr. G. Suja, Head, ICAR-CTCRI & Member Secretary, QRT listened to presentations made by Director and all project leaders about the R&D achievements of the institute, made critical observations for fine tuning the programmes in alignment with national priorities. They also visited various experimental fields and laborotaries as well as important facilities.

Tuber Crops Development Program 2024-25

On 5 October 2024, under the leadership of Central Tuber Crop Research Institute, Ollur Block Panchayat, Department of Agriculture, Ollur Krishi Samriddhi FPC and Ollur Scheduled Castes Cooperative Society organized the 2024-25 tuber crop development program and distribution of products at Thrissur Ollukkara Block Panchayat Hall. Hon. Adv. K. Rajan, Government of Kerala Minister of Revenue and Housing Department attended as the chief guest and inaugurated the project. He emphasized the importance of protecting the native tuber crops and keeping them in their respective areas.

Agribusiness accelerator programme

ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad and ICAR-CTCRI jointly organised a roadshow/start up hunt for a food and agribusiness accelerator programme. Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, NAARM was the Chief Guest; Dr. Roy Stephen, Dean, College of Agriculture, Vellayani & Sri. Baiju N. Kurup graced the programme by their presence as Guests of Honour. Director, CTCRI delivered keynote address. Dr. S. Senthil Vinayagam, CEO, a-Idea, NAARM and Dr. P. Sethuraman Sivakumar participated. Chairman, SLBC; Representatives of SBI; ICAR-CMFRI; CWRDM; Kerala Startup Mission; Kudumbasree; and startups, other stakeholders and students participated.

PUBLICATIONS

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.