Workshop on “Improved Technologies of Carrot Root & Seed Production” Held in Hisar

World Vegetable Center jointly with USDA, Crop trust and Somani Seedz organized a one-day workshop at Kumhar Chaupal, Kheri Barkhi, Hisar on 3^rd April, 2019. The workshop was inaugurated by Dr.Arjun Singh Saini, MD, SFACH, which was followed by the welcome address by Shri. Kamal Somani, Managing Director of Somani Seedz, India.

The program was attended by 143 progressive farmers of Hisar and adjoining area who are involved in carrot roots and seeds production in the area, besides some senior officials of department of Horticulture, Government of Haryana. To name few, DDH – Hisar, Dr. Atam Prakash, Dr. Surendra Sihag, DHO Hisar, Dr.Kuldeep Seoran, DHO- Fatehabad, Dr. Krishan Nain, HDO- Fatehabad, Dr. Jyoti Jangra, CPC- SFACH, and Ms. Ritu Kumari, DPC-SFACH, Mr. Jai Singh, Director, Farm innovation and Mr. Kuldeep Singh, Director FPO, Hisar. Dr.Ravishankar Manickam, representative of World Vegetable Center, Taiwan gave an insight of this training program and its importance.

Dr. Narendra Singh, Ex. HOD , Vegetable Science, IARI, Pusa gave training through power point presentation on carrot roots and seed production in India. He has covered carrot root production scenario in India especially selection of variety, soil, climate requirement, and complete package of practices for carrot seeds and commercial root production. He also shared his experience on truthful seed production technology to improve the quality of seed produced by small farmers.

Dr. Arjun Singh Saini, MD., SFACH and Director General, Department of Horticulture, Govt of Haryana, gave key note speech wherein he advised the official representative of World vegetable Center and organising committee to participate in all such events which directly or indirectly help the farming community to enhance their skill in production and productivity and suggested the farming community to attend all such training program to increase their knowledge. He urged the organizer to submit two pages concept note on any such training program where the farmers and state could get the benefits of such program as state has sufficient funds to run the program on PPP mode or any other mode.

Dr M.A. Rahim, Vegetable Breeder, from Bangladesh, gave a magnificent speech on the topic “Status of Carrot roots and seed production in Bangladesh and emerging challenges due to climate change and demand of offseason carrot throughout the year”.

This workshop was part of carrot project in India having its first objective of testing carrot breeding lines for salinity and drought tolerance and the second objective is a comprehensive training on root and small scale sustainable seed production for farmers. However, the main aim of this program was to share knowledge and breeding line with private seed company that could be useful for certain breeding traits and development of varieties of hybrid.

The training programme was successfully concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Dr. Bharathi PVL, Training Coordinator , World Veg, India and Dr. P .K. Pant, Vice President – Marketing (North India) Somani Seedz, to all the participants and the dignitaries present in the workshop.