Farmer’s conference on enhancing vegetables production for food and nutritional security

A two-day Farmers Seminar on ‘Enhancing Vegetable Production for Food and Nutritional Security and Improvement in Livelihood’ under Integrated Mission of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India was organized  by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow and NHRDF, Deoria (UP) at ICAR-IISR, Lucknow on 12 to 13 October 2018. 

Speaking on the occasion as Chief Guest, Dr. B. Singh, Director, ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi emphasized that increase in the availability, affordability, and consumption of nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables and pulses is one way to reverse malnutrition. To improve accessibility and availability, local vegetable production may be the solution. Dr. Singh specifically spoke about Moringa oleifera which is called ‘Miracle Tree’ and commonly known as Sahjan in Hindi and drumstick tree or horseradish in English. He told Moringa can withstand both severe drought and mild frost conditions and hence widely cultivated across the world, and is used as potential antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antimicrobial agent. 

Dr. A. D. Pathak, Director, ICAR-IISR, Lucknow stressed that schools and community gardens must encourage the production and consumption of a diversity of vegetables and fruit, which is particularly important when persuading children to favor a balanced and nutritious diet as part of a healthy lifestyle.  Dr. S. N. Singh, Principal Scientist and Head, KVK, ICAR-IISR, Lucknow stressed the need for adopting diversified agriculture in the sugarcane-based cropping system. 

Dr. Shailendra Rajan, Director, ICAR-CISH, Lucknow, Dr. P. K. Gupta, Director, NHRDF, New Delhi, Dr. S. K. Singh, Joint Managing Director, Usar Bhoomi Sudhar Nigam, Lucknow, Dr. Shambhoo Kumar, Head, ICAR-CPRS, Patna and Dr. Rajnish Mishra, Director, NHRDF, Deoria (UP) also expressed their views on this occasion. The programme was attended by more than 400 farmers from different states of the country besides a large number of development workers and scientists. A souvenir was released during the inaugural session and 10 innovative farmers were felicitated for their outstanding works in the field of vegetables production.