Inauguration of ICTRT2013

Inaugural function of International Conference on Tropical Roots and Tubers for Sustainable livelihood under Changing Agro-climate (ICTRT2013) and the culmination of golden jubilee celebration of Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) was held on 9th July, 2013 at 6:00 PM in Mascot Hotel, Thiruvananthapuram.
Dr.S.Ayyappan, Director General, ICAR,  presided over the function. Dr.S.Ramanathan, President, Indian Society for Root Crops (ISRC) welcomed the gathering. Dr.S.K.Chakrabarti, Director, CTCRI, gave introductory remarks and Dr.N.K.Krishnakumar, Deputy Director General (Horticulture), ICAR, gave felicitation address. Dr.Shashi Tharoor, Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development, Government of India was the guest of honour of the function and he lauded the achievements made by CTCRI in different areas like production of high yielding varieties, bio pesticides, value addition etc. Shri Oommen Chandy, Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala inaugurated the conference. During his inaugural address he congratulated the scientists of the institute for making remarkable achievements during the past fifty years and he called for exploiting the potential of tuber crops  for food and nutritional security of tribal folk in the Attappadi area of Palakkad district. He said that CTCRI would soon set up a technology incubation centre to produce value added products with the financial assistance from Small Farmers AgriBusiness Consortium, Government of Kerala. Dr.G. Byju, Secretary, ISRC proposed vote of thanks.