ICAR-Centre Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala (NEH programme of ICAR-CTCRI & AICRP on tuber crops), and District Administration, Wokha and ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Wokha Nagaland jointly organised a one-day training programme on novel processing and value addition in Tapioca and “Ethnic Tuber crops Festival” on 24th February 2025 at Tiyi Hall, Wokha, with Advisor for Agriculture, Mhathung Yanthan as the special guest.
Addressing the programme, Mhathung Yanthan lauded the efforts of the District Administration let by the Deputy Commissioner, Wokha Vineet Kumar IAS and ICAR for initiating such beneficial training programmes for the farmers and SHGs, and expressed hope that the farmers will be benefited to a great extent. He also appreciated the efforts of the ICAR officials and scientists for reaffirming knowledge about the importance tuber crop to the farmers.
Observing that tapioca crop is abundantly available in Wokha region, Yanthan encouraged the farmers to grow and cultivate more stating that it has the potential to boost economy. As tapioca has the potentials of producing varieties of products, he urged the farmers to think in terms of producing in large scale and focus in creating processing units as this will help in generating employment as well. He further appealed to the allied departments to give collaborative efforts in educating the farmers to improve innovative and modern way of processing the crop.
During the programme, short speeches were delivered by Dr. G. Byju, Director, ICAR-CTCRI, Thiruvanathapuram, Dr. R. Muthuraj Principal scientist, Dr. H. Kalita, Head Regional Centre ICAR RC for NEH, Dr. Suman, Addl. Director Agriculture Nagaland, and Director for Horticulture, Nagaland.
Later in the technical session, topics including improved varieties and quality planting material production in tapioca, economics and marketing of tapioca, novel processing techniques and value addition in tapioca were highlighted to the trainees by the resource persons.
(DPRO & IA, Wokha)
