Doubling farm income via tuber crops mooted
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 16 2018: ICAR organised a one-day stakeholder's workshop on "Tuber Crops Based Entrepreneurship in Manipur -Scope and Opportunities" at Imphal yesterday in collaboration with CTCRI, Trivandrumand KVK Ukhrul.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr N Prakash, Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region emphasised on doubling the farm income through tuber crops based enterprises.

Chief guest of the function, PK Bal, Chairman of Manipur Rural Bank elaborated the role of bankers in entrepreneurship development.

Dr I Meghachandra Singh, Joint Director, appealed to the concerned stakeholders for optimum utilization of the Tuber Crops Incubation Centres established by ICAR at Riha and Thoyee villages in Ukhrul.

A scientific delegates from CTCRI, Trivandrum, Dr R Muthuraj, Dr D Jaganathan and Dr T Krishnakumar provided technical back up to the stakeholders.

Convener of the workshop, Dr MR Sahoo highlighted the success story of the tuber crop incubation centres as the life line of the tribal communities.

Over 50 entrepreneurs, SHG members, scientists and technicians participated in the workshop.

ICAR also organised a day long entrepreneurship development programme on "Utilizing Tuber Crops Based Village Incubation Centre for Sustainable Development" at Riha village in collaboration with ICAR-CTCRI-NEH programme on March 14.Members of the Maya and Lingsang tuber crops growers' clubs along with 100 progressive farmers, SHG members and rural youths participated in the programme which was presided by Dr R Muthuraj, Principal Scientist in the presence of Dr MR Sahoo, Dr D Jaganathan and Dr T Krishnakumar and Dr Ramakrishna.

The delegates emphasised on the prospects of the village incubation centres which were established under the ICAR-CTCRI-NEH programme as the sustainable livelihood of the tribal communities.

The established village incubation centres were not only helpful for increasing rural livelihood but also for doubling the farmer's income through value addition of tuber crops through primary and secondary processing.

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