Odisha ncluded in Roots and Tuber Crops Project

BHUBANESWAR: In another step towards food security in the state, Odisha has been included in International programme for Roots and Tuber Crops (RTC), initiated by International Potato Centre (known by its Spanish acronym CIP).  The project seeks to achieve food security on sustained basis through scientific research on potato, sweet potato and other root crops. The State Government has asked the Agriculture Department to put in adequate extension machinery for convincing farmers about utility of tuber crops and providing them handholding support for cultivation and marketing. It has also been decided that planting materials developed through research would be multiplied in large numbers so as to meet the requirement of farmers.  RTC crops are important food and nutrition sources for tribal people. It has been decided that the programme will be carried on through joint partnership between OTELP and CIP-SWCA. In the first phase, the programme will be implemented in Ganjam and Koraput districts.  Important varieties of the crop identified for promotion in Odisha are potato, sweet potato, yam and elephant foot yam. These products are naturally bio-fortified and have high nutritional value.   It has also been decided that collaborative work plan covering assessment and action components will be developed for implementation of the programme.  The issues were discussed at a planning meeting of the programme presided over by Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik before its implementation at the government level. Around 40 agricultural scientists and experts from CIP’s Regional Programme for South West and Central Asia (SWCA),  various  agricultural research institutes of Odisha and some leading voluntary organisations attended the meeting to discuss target sites and preliminary cropping study on RTC in Odisha. India is one among the 15 countries of South West and Central Asia in which the programme is being implemented. Other countries in this region are Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Georgia, Nepal, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Sri Lanka, Tajikstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Odisha and Meghlaya are two states in India identified for the programme. The programme is being supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).