Tuber crop vegetable Cultivation to achieve nutritional security, export opportunities, says skltshu Vice Chancellor

Cultivation of tuber crop vegetables, which has been around for ages, will not only achieve nutritional security in the country, but also provide employment and export opportunities, said Dr. Danda Raji Reddy, Vice Chancellor of  Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University

Hyderabad: Cultivation of tuber crop vegetables, which has been around for ages, will not only achieve nutritional security in the country, but also provide employment and export opportunities, said Dr. Danda Raji Reddy, Vice Chancellor of  Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University.

Speaking in the 25th annual group meeting of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Tuber Crops, held at College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar, here on Monday, Dr. Raji Reddy said tuber crops are promising for the future in terms of coping with the ongoing climate changes and providing nutritional security to the entire country and high income to farmers.

By making new varieties of short duration, linking them to Farmer Producer Organizations and promoting the cultivation of tuber crops within 50 kilometers of every town in the country, their availability to consumers will increase, he said.

The two-day event commenced Monday is being jointly organized by Central Tuber Crops Research Institute of Kerala and the Vegetable Research station of Telangana.

ICAR deputy DG Dr. Sanjay Kumar Singh urged scientists to make available biofortified varieties with nutrients in large quantities to the farmers.

If the use of chemicals, fertilizers and other inputs is reduced, their cultivation will be profitable if locally available organic fertilizers and botanicals are used, he said.

ICAR Assistant Director General, Dr. Sudhakar Pandey, Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Trivandrum, Kerala, Director, Dr. G Baiju, ICAR ATARI Zone 10 Director,

Dr. Sheikh N. Meera, University Research Director, Dr. Lakshminarayana, and Registrar, Dr. Bhagwan among others participated.