ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram organized State Level Launching of Seed Gram-Nurturing seeds, empowering villages: 2025-30’ as part of CTCRI-SCSP programme and conducted farmers training and distribution of planting materials at EMS Hall, Parassala Grama Panchayat on 4 July 2025.
The program was inaugurated by Sri. C.K. Hareendran, MLA, Parassala and inauguration of distribution of planting materials was done by Sri. K. Ansalan, MLA, Neyyattinkara. Presidential address was by Shri. S.K. Bendarwin, President, Block Panchayath, Parassala and the lead talk was delivered by Dr. G. Byju, Director, ICAR-CTCRI.
In his inaugural speech Sri. C.K. Hareendran stressed upon the importance of tuber crops as a saviour crop in our difficult times of food shortage and Sri. K. Ansalan was of the opinion that newer interventions in agriculture like ‘seed gram’ should be encouraged. CTCRI director Dr. G. Byju detailed about the importance and contributions of CTCRI for the farmers.
There were felicitations for the programme from Smt. Manju Smitha, Grama Panchayath, Parassala. Various elected members of local self-government and also officials of department of agriculture participated in the programme.
Dr. Suja, G., Head, Crop Production, ICAR-CTCRI welcomed the gathering and by Dr. K. Sunilkumar, Principal Scientist and Project leader, ICAR-CTCRI proposed the vote of thanks.
In technical session classes were taken by Dr. C. Mohan (CTCRI Principal Scientist) on the topic Improved varieties of tuber crops, Dr. K. Sunilkumar (CTCRI Principal Scientist and Project Leader) on the topic Decentralized Seed Multipliers and seed village initiatives by ICAR-CTCRI and Dr. E. R. Harish (CTCRI Senior Scientist) on the topic Integrated pest and disease management in tuber crops. Technical session was followed by farmer-scientist interaction and distribution of planting materials of improved tuber crops varieties to farmers. Overall, more than 400 farmers participated in the programme.
