ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Regional Station, Modipuram, Meerut, organized ‘National Potato Festival-2024,’ on 9th-10th March, 2024. The festival aimed to promote awareness about the latest technologies in potato production and its nutritional significance while addressing the challenges of the future.
The Chief Guest, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticulture Science), emphasised the significance of potatoes in horticulture and highlighted ongoing horticulture schemes by the council. He applauded the institute’s efforts in potato research and extended best wishes for the success of the National Potato Festival.
Dr. K.K. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, encouraged the farmers to adopt the institute’s innovative potato production technologies to increase productivity and income. He proposed collaborative potato research projects with agricultural universities to further advance the sector.
Dr. Brajesh Singh, Director, ICAR-CPRI, Shimla, highlighted the institute’s achievements in potato development in India and discussed future prospects.
Dr. R.K. Singh, Head of the Station, inaugurated the published potato recipe book, and the National Potato Fest-2024 souvenir added to the ceremonial spirit of the event.
Dr. Sudhakar Pandey, Assistant Director-General (Fruits, Vegetables, Spices, and Medicinal Plants) was also present at the event.
The festival hosted a two-day technical session on potato technologies, focusing on advanced varieties, healthy seeds, processed products, agricultural mechanization, industry roles, and crop protection innovations for farmers.
The festival featured a potato cuisine competition where students demonstrated five categories of potato-based dishes, with over a thousand stakeholders including farmers, entrepreneurs, experts, and officials.
Visitors enjoyed an agricultural exhibition featuring advanced technologies and products from the institute and other research organizations, and a symbolic tree-planting activity was also observed.
(Source: ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Regional Station-Modipuram)
Original link: https://icar.org.in/national-potato-festival-2024
