Understanding the Importance of Tuber Crops in Food and Economic Security for Tribals

The Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Bhubaneswar organized the “Tuber Day” at the TSP Village Tikabali, Kandhamal District, Odisha.

Chief Guest, Dr. V. Ravi, Director, ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram highlighted the importance of the tuber crops in food and economic security of the tribal population of Odisha. He regarded the celebrations of the Tuber Day as an attempt for making the farmers aware about the production of quality planting materials, scientific production technologies, value-added products, food and nutritional security.

Dr. M. Nedunchezhiyan, In-Charge, Regional Centre, ICAR-CTCRI, Bhubaneswar, Odisha emphasized on the importance of the value-added products developed from the different tuber crops, particularly, the biofortified β-carotene rich orange flesh and anthocyanin rich purple flesh sweet potato varieties, development of seed villages for providing sufficient quality planting materials for the tribal community.The progressive tuber crops farmers actively participated in the exhibition.The programme registered a total participation by around 500 tribal farmers.