TURA: A Stakeholder Meet and Entrepreneurship Development Programme on Tuber Crop Technologies was organized by ICAR-CTCRI in collaboration with NEHU and KVK from West Garo Hills at SMELC Building, Dakopgre in Tura recently.
During the programme, a Tuber Crop Exhibition cum ethnic food festival was inaugurated by West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of the Meghalaya Basin Development Agency (MBDA), Ram Singh where various food products developed by ICAR-CTCRI were also demonstrated to the participants.
Speaking as the Chief Guest during the programme, Ram Singh lauded the efforts of the ICAR-CTCRI in initiating a collaborative effort to create sustainable enterprise involving tuber crops. Singh also stressed on the need to convert locally produced tuber crops into viable value added food products to address the urban market needs.
The stakeholder meeting was inaugurated by NEHU Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof G Singaiah in the presence of other officials from related departments.
During the meeting ICAR-CTCRI scientists presented various tuber crop technologies with high industrial potential which were later deliberated at the stakeholders’ meeting.
The program was attended by around 100 farmers from various parts of West Garo Hills.
It may be mentioned that Tuber Crops like taro, cassava, sweet potato and yam play a crucial role in securing food and nutritional security of the Garo Tribe, and serve as a secondary staple especially during the lean seasons. The ICAR-CTCRI has developed several value added food products like noodles, pasta, savoury snacks, nutribars, cookies and chips from tuber crops, which can help the people to utilize the locally grown tubers to earn additional income through value addition.