Latest news with #CTCRI
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
‘Smart clusters' for tuber crops on the anvil in four districts
The ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), in collaboration with NGO Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA), will develop four 'smart clusters' for tuber crops in the State. Under this programme, cassava will be grown in Thiruvananthapuram district, elephant foot yam and yams in Kollam, sweet potato in Alappuzha district and arrowroot and minor tubers in Pathanamthitta district. The initiative will be undertaken under the leadership of one farmer producer company (FPC) each in the four districts, according to the CTCRI. Detailed project reports and technological support will be provided by the CTCRI, the institute's director G. Byju said. Complete value chain will be established in those districts involving the FPCs. The action plan is based on a memorandum of understanding inked by the CTCRI and CISSA for strengthening 36 FPCs in the four southern districts under an initiative that places special emphasis on tuber crops. Capacity building training in soil testing using the Pusa Soil Testing and Fertiliser Recommendation (STFR) meter, establishment of tuber crop nurseries and seed villages, production of different bioinputs and biocontrol agents as well as value addition of tuber crops also will be organised for the FPCs at the CTCRI as at the district level under the agreement. A planning workshop held at the CTCRI this week chalked out a long-term action plan for equipping the 36 selected FPCs to strengthen the tuber crop value chain in the four districts. The 36 FPCs are promoted by the CISSA. As part of the MoU, the CTCRI will equip the FPCs with skills in value chain development, processing, packaging, branding, and marketing in the context of tuber crops.
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Now, ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute to produce Chena Pradhaman Ada
The ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) here at Sreekaryam has developed a technology for the production of ready-to-cook flakes from elephant foot yam (Chena) for making ada pradhaman. According to the CTCRI, ada pradhaman made using the flakes of elephant foot yam corms has higher nutritional value than the rice ada. The CTCRI has also licensed the process technology for the production of the shelf-stable, dehydrated Chena Pradhaman Ada. The new product is being commercially marketed by the Haritha Lakshmi Krishikoottam, a Kollam-based farmer group. The ada from the elephant foot yam is being sold under the Keralagro brand of the Agriculture department. Deputy Speaker Chittayam Gopakumar had formally launched it at a function last week. With 15-20% starch, 1.5 % dietary fibre, 1.5 to 3.2% protein, 12-14 mg/100 gram calcium, 1.2 mg/100 gram iron and high levels of phosphorus (49-60 mg), elephant foot yam corms are nutritionally better compared to tubers such as cassava, M.S. Sajeev, principal scientist and lead developer of the technology, said. Product diversification CTCRI director G. Byju said that the institute places emphasis on product diversification focussing on region-specific and popular tuber crops and niche markets.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
ICAR-CTCRI, CISSA join hands to strengthen 36 farmer producer companies
The ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI) will help to strengthen 36 farmer producer companies (FPC) in four southern districts of Kerala under an initiative that places special emphasis on tuber crops. Under it, CTCRI will help to equip the FPCs with skills in value chain development, processing, packaging, branding, and marketing in the context of tuber crops, G. Byju, director, CTCRI, said. The 36 FPCs are promoted by the NGO Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA) and CISSA and CTCRI exchanged an MoU here on Thursday for the initiative. The CTCRI will provide technical support, business mentorship and entrepreneurial training to the FPCs so as to enhance their capacity to function as successful agro-based enterprises, Dr. Byju said. The FPCs are from the southern districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha. Addressing the MoU exchange function at the CTCRI, former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan said functional linkages among teaching, research and extension organisations are vital to transforming FPCs into sustainable business organisations. On the occasion, Mr. Muraleedharan flagged off 'Ananthapuri 5000,' a programme of CISSA for developing 5000 'impactful enterprises' by September 2025. This initiative is aimed at empowering farmer collectives with technology, knowledge, and entrepreneurship, laying the foundation for resilient and prosperous rural communities.
