SHILLONG, Sep 19: ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute in collaboration with International Potato Centre organised the two-day Annual Joint Review Meeting at ICAR-CPRI RS Shillong recently. The session was chaired by Dr AK Singh, Deputy Director General (Hort. Sci.), ICAR, New Delhi.
Director (A) ICAR-CPRI, Shimla, Dr Devendra Kumar, and CIP- Asia Regional Director, Dr S Mohanty, addressed the session during the review meeting.
In his address, the chairman highlighted the significance of potato crop in view of Northeastern region’s potential and farmers’ income. He emphasised the need for adequate amount of potato planting material of high-yielding varieties.
Discussion was held on strengthening the country’s potato gene bank by importing more number of germplasm from CIP Lima Peru to CPRI.
Representatives from Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura and Nagaland were invited for panel discussions on potato seed chain development in Northeastern states. Issues related to potato seed availability and collaborative efforts were discussed with ICAR-CPRI and CIP for these states.
On the occasion, the farmers’ training hostel was inaugurated by Dr AK Singh of ICAR, New Delhi.
The chairman and delegates visited different facilities, laboratories and fields at ICAR- CPRI RS Shillong and Bio-Resource Development Centre (BRDC), Upper Shillong.