A three-day capacity building programme on varietal identification and insect pest management of potato commenced on Monday at the ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI), Shimla. The training is being conducted for employees of Bhatti Agritech Private Limited, a Jalandhar-based firm, equipping them with scientific knowledge and practical skills in potato varietal identification, integrated pest management (IPM), and quality seed production.
Emphasis on continuous capacity building
Welcoming the participants, Dr. Alok Kumar, Head of the Division of Social Sciences at ICAR-CPRI, Shimla, highlighted the importance of continuous capacity building for agricultural professionals who work directly with farmers. He noted that the programme is designed to meet the specific expectations of participants, focusing on scientific potato production, varietal identification, integrated pest management, quality seed production, and strengthening technical support under contract farming.
Partnerships key to potato sector growth
Addressing the inaugural session, Dr. Brajesh Singh, Director of ICAR-CPRI, stated that the future growth of India's potato sector depends on strong partnerships among research institutions, private companies, and farmers. He said the training would enable participants to promote location-specific technologies, enhance productivity, reduce production risks, and facilitate better market access for farmers through organised contract farming systems.
Importance of accurate varietal identification
Training programme coordinators Dr. Pynbianlang and Dr. P. Lokesh Babu emphasised that accurate varietal identification is essential for maintaining varietal purity, improving processing quality, and meeting the diverse requirements of different market segments. The programme aims to equip participants with practical skills in identifying potato varieties and managing insect pests effectively, contributing to higher yields and better quality produce.
According to ICAR-CPRI officials, the training will include hands-on sessions and field demonstrations to ensure participants gain confidence in applying the learned techniques. The institute has a long history of developing high-yielding and disease-resistant potato varieties, and this initiative is part of its outreach to strengthen the potato value chain in India.
