Port Blair, Jan 30: ICAR-CIARI organized two training programmes on ‘Improved tuber crops cultivation practices and regenerative agricultural practices for the benefit of farmers from North & Middle Andaman district in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra- Nimbudera under All India Coordinated Research Project on Tuber Crops on 24th and 25th January 2023 at Pahalgaon in Mayabunder zone and Dharmapur villages of Shivpuram panchayat. A total of about 50 farmers attended the two training programmes and participated in the interactive sessions.

The farmers were imparted knowledge on the benefits of tuber crops cultivation for enhanced food security, scope for value addition, use of quality planting material, climate resilience of tuber crops, alleviating malnutrition through tuber crops products from tubers and leaves and the marketing opportunities. Besides, information on the component crops in plantation crops-based cropping systems were also disseminated, which includes spices, coconut, arecanut, fruits and other vegetables along with tuber crops.

The programme was conducted and coordinated by Dr. B. A. Jerard, Head, Division of Horticulture and Forestry & PI of AICRP on Tuber crops, Dr. Damodaran, CTO and Co-PI, AICRP on Tuber crops, Dr SK Zamir Ahmed, Principal Scientist and Mr. Manoj, SMS, KVK-Nimbudera at North & Middle Andaman under the overall guidance of Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair. During the programme, planting material of improved varieties of Elephant Foot Yam, Sweet Potato, Colocasia and Tapioca were distributed to the farmers.