ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana(NRCB), Tiruchirapalli; ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), Thiruvananthapuram and Department of Forests, Namakkal, Government of Tamil Nadu jointly organized a training programme on Hitech banana and cassava technologies for holistic development of tribal farmers in Namakkal district on 04 February 2025 at ICAR-NRCB, Thayanur, Trichy.
Dr. R. Selvarajan, Director, ICAR-NRCB, Trichy delivered Presidential address. The Director spoke about the importance of improved varieties and technologies for improving the liveihood of tribal farmers in Namakkal district. Giving thrust on 'Reaching the Unreached' the programme is organized for tribal farmers for empowering them through innovations in banana and cassava farming. Dr. T. Makeshkumar, Head, Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-CTCRI, delivered Special address. He stressed the need for establishment of seed villages on improved varieties of cassava for replacement of old varieties, adoption of soil and water conservation measures and capacity building of farmers on production and value addition technologies for enhancing income of the farmers in the region. Shri.Kalanithi IFS, District Forest Officer, Namakkal, informed that tribal farmers are the custodians of traditional varieties and technologies which are nature based. Capacity building of tribal farmers on scientific cultivation of banana and cassava will enhance the production and farm income. Dr. Vikramaditya Pandey, Principal Scientist, Division of Horticultural Science, ICAR, New Delhi was the Guest of Honour who spoke about the significance of Tribal Sub Plan for the development of tribal farmers through innovations in farming, capacity building and convergence of stakeholders and entrepreneurship development.
Dr. G. Prabhu, Dr.P. Sureshkumar, Dr. A. Mohanasundaram, Dr.C. Karpagam, Dr.C. Anuradha, Dr. K. Nagendran from ICAR- NRCB, Trichy and Dr. T. Makeshkumar, Dr. V. Ramesh, Dr. R. Muthuraj and Dr. D. Jaganathan from ICAR-CTCRI handled technical sessions and interacted with farmers and officials.
Planting materials of banana (tissue culture plants), cassava (Sree Reksha, Sree Kaveri), sweet potato(Bhu Sona, Bhu Krishna, Sree Kanaka), Micronol for cassava, value added products from tuber crops and training kits were distributed to the farmers.
Exhibition stalls showcasing varieties and technologies of banana, cassava and horticultural crops and stakeholders interface were organized as part of the event. About 110 farmers, officials and other stakeholders participated in the event.
