Farmers trained on improved tuber crops at Sohphoh village

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 4, 2024

ICAR-CTCRI organized a training program on “Improved Varieties, Technologies, and Value Addition in Tuber Crops” on September 4, at Sohphoh village, West Jaintia Hills. The event was held in collaboration with ICAR RC for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, and KVK, West Jaintia Hills.

Shanbha Rani, Joint Director of Horticulture, Directorate of Agriculture, Shillong, Meghalaya, was the Chief Guest and delivered the inaugural address. He highlighted the significance of demonstrations and capacity-building programs in tuber crops to enhance the livelihoods of tribal farmers in Meghalaya. He also appreciated the efforts of ICAR-CTCRI for establishing seed villages on tuber crops for addressing the food and nutritional security of tribal people in Meghalaya.

Experts including Dr. Manas Ranjan Sahoo, Head of Crop Improvement; Dr. R Muthuraj, Principal Scientist; Dr. D Jaganathan, Senior Scientist from ICAR-CTCRI; and Dr. HD Talang, Scientist at ICAR RC NEH, covered various topics on tuber crops. Risakaru Lyngdoh, SMS (Agronomy) from KVK, West Jaintia Hills, along with FPO officials, also offered their felicitations.

Improved planting materials of cassava varieties such as Sree Jaya, Sree Pavithra, and Sree Reksha, along with sweet potato varieties Sree Arun, Sree Kanaka, Bhu Sona, and Bhu Krishna, were distributed to farmers for demonstration and seed village establishment. Training materials and farm implements were also provided. The program was attended by 75 participants, including farmers, entrepreneurs, and officials.