The All India Coordinated Research Network on Potential Crops, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi organized the Brainstorming Meeting on “Improvement of Potential Crops and Development of Value Chain” at the National Agricultural Science Centre Complex, New Delhi.
In his inaugural address, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & DG (ICAR) opined that the crops varieties developed by the agricultural scientists and farmers need proper branding. For this, there is a need to develop an effective media planning strategy. The Director-General urged to conduct a proper analysis of the crops varieties beforehand only that can help in branding the particular crops more effectively and efficiently.
Asserting on the system of the value chain in the crops varieties, the Director-General stated that the process is possible only with the help of proper and effective coordination between the inventors and the information disseminators.
Dr. A.K. Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticulture Sciences), ICAR, New Delhi shared his views regarding the various important crops varieties that are an integral part of our daily lives. Citing the example of the crop variety - Kuttu Ka Atta, Dr. Singh urged the scientists to develop such techniques that can help to maintain and retain its important health and nutritional values.
Dr. S.K. Malhotra, Agriculture Commissioner, Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, stated that the income, food, nutritional and environmental securities are interrelated to each other. Causing any types of hindrances in the system could lead to disturbances in the whole cycle.
Dr. Malhotra urged the farmers to add value-addition in their products that can help them to achieve more profits. He stressed on the importance of bio-fortification in the crops varieties in order to ensure their nutritional values and health benefits effectively.
Shri Aswini Kumar, Joint Secretary (Seeds) asked for the introduction of the new varieties of crops that can be helpful in enhancing the quality of life. Kumar opined to include these crops in the public distribution system.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Director, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi highlighted the main aim and objectives of the Brainstorming Meeting. Dr. Singh asked to focus on the agricultural diversity in order to use these crops for eliminating hunger and poverty from the country.
The main aim of the Brainstorming Meeting was to discuss the various issues in detail and have scientific interventions which can provide the line of research to the researchers, who in turn, can develop the new improved varieties with high yield and better nutrition along with a package of practices.
