| A Workshop-cum-Training Programme on “Bio-fortified Tuber Crops Integrated Cropping System” was organized at ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar on 18 September, 2025 under the project ‘Integration of Bio-fortified Tuber Crops in Cropping System for Nutrition and Livelihood Improvement of Farm Families’. Dr. Tania Seth, Scientist and PI of the project welcomed all the participants and described the purpose and objectives of the workshop. She emphasized the importance of bio-fortified vegetables in daily diet for nutritional security and highlighted that adoption of bio-fortified tuber crops integrated cropping system will help in elevating household nutrition. The Workshop-cum-Training Programme comprised of technical sessions, where in Dr. S. K. Sarangi, HOD, DATW, ICAR-CIWA discussed in details about the zero tillage bio-fortified potato cultivation and integration of vegetables in paddy system for reducing risk and increasing the income. Dr. Tania Seth, Scientist briefed about different varieties of bio-fortified sweet potato, potato and yam and stressed that integration of bio-fortified tuber crops in the existing cropping system will facilitate the women farmer towards increasing the cropping intensity and reducing vulnerability to climate change. Dr. K. Laxminarayana, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CTCRI RC Bhubaneswar explained about production practices of bio-fortified tuber crops (sweet potato and yam) and nursery management of sweet potato for quality planting material production. At the end of the training programme, hands on training and demonstration were conducted on production practices of tuber crops, multi-commodity based intensive farming system (JANANAI model), pro-tray seedling raising, vermicomposting and paddy straw mushroom cultivation. In this program, seeds of seasonal vegetables and vine cuttings of bio-fortified sweet potato variety (Bhu Krishna) were distributed to the participants. A total of 27 women farmer from Dhenkanal and Puri districts had participated in the programme. The program was coordinated by Dr. Tania Seth, Scientist and Dr. S. K. Sarangi, HOD, DATW, ICAR-CIWA. |
