Koraput, Sept 16: The Department of Agriculture, Central University of Odisha (CUO), in collaboration with the International Potato Center (CIP), Peru, organised a potato innovation & technology demonstration programme at the university campus in Sunabeda, Koraput.
The programme focused on emerging technologies in potato seed production, protected cultivation, research collaboration and capacity building.
Vice-Chancellor of CUO, Prof. (Dr.) Ajit Kumar Shasany, inaugurated the polyhouse and net-house facilities established under the potato project for potato cutting/rooted cutting production under protected cultivation at the university campus.
The programme was attended by the Dean of the University, Prof. Narasingha Charan Panda, and distinguished scientists from CIP, including Dr. Kalpana Sharma, Global Scientist, CIP, along with Dr. Elly Atieno and Dr. Nabakishore Parida.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Manjushree Singh, Head, Department of Agriculture, CUO, who welcomed the visiting CIP scientists and highlighted the department’s initiatives towards promoting innovative, technology-driven and field-oriented agricultural research.
The technical sessions focused on advanced techniques for potato seed production, particularly aeroponics and apical root cutting. The participants discussed the potential of these technologies for producing quality planting material and strengthening sustainable potato production systems suited to the agroecological conditions of Koraput and the wider region.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Kalpana Sharma highlighted the opportunities for strengthening academic and research linkages between CUO and CIP.
She suggested involving students of the Department of Agriculture in ongoing collaborative research projects of CIP to provide them with practical exposure to contemporary potato technologies and international research practices.
The Vice-Chancellor emphasised the importance of strengthening institutional collaboration between CUO and CIP. He suggested initiating the process for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions to facilitate joint research, student training, technology demonstration and capacity-building initiatives.
Dr. Elly Atieno and Dr. Nabakishore Parida shared their experiences of the past four months of engagement with the Department of Agriculture and appreciated the Department’s active participation, scientific interest and commitment to agricultural innovation and field-oriented research.
As part of the programme, the visiting scientists, University authorities, faculty members and students also visited the polyhouse and net-house facilities, where potato cutting/rooted cutting production under protected cultivation was demonstrated.
