ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute

Director inaugurated the fourth Satellite Incubation Centre (SIC) of CTCRI’s ABI at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Pattambi, Palakkad.

The programme was presided over by Dr. Binoo P. Bonny, Director of Extension, KAU. Dr. A.V. Santhoshkumar, Professor, College of Forestry, KAU; Dr. P. Raji, Associate Director of Research, RARS, Pattambi; Dr. V. Thulasi, Executive Committee Member, KAU; Dr. B. Shanmugasundaram, Professor, RARS, Pattambi; and Dr. P. Sethuraman Sivakumar graced the occasion.

Director also inaugurated a Stakeholder Workshop on “Strategies for Safeguarding and Leveraging Tribal Farmers’ Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Innovations in Kerala”, which witnessed active participation of around 100 stakeholders, including farmers, academicians, and innovators.

The SIC initiative aims to nurture grassroots innovations, promote agripreneurship, and accelerate technology dissemination.

Plans are underway to establish four more Satellite Incubation Centres in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Karnataka, thereby expanding the national network for tuber crops–based entrepreneurship.