21-day training in nutritional security via vegetables ends at Nauni university

Solan, February 23

The Centre for Advanced Faculty Training in Horticulture (CAFT) of the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, organised a 21-day national-level advanced training programme on ‘Nutritional Security through Diversified Vegetable Production’ for 17 scientists of various institutes from across the country. The training, which concluded yesterday, was sponsored by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Crop diversification

• The role of vegetables in crop diversification and the challenges faced in mass propagation of some vegetable varieties were highlighted at the programme

Speaking at the valedictory function, Sanjeev Chauhan, Director (research) and chief guest of the programme, said that vegetables were important for realising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of no poverty, zero hunger, good health and wellbeing.

Vegetables were an integral part of the diet system and were instrumental in meeting our nutritional requirements, he added. He urged the participants to focus on agricultural extension and developing replicable models that could cater to the farmers, especially small and marginal growers.

UK Kohli, guest of honour and former Dean of College of Horticulture, highlighted the role of vegetables in the diversification of crops and also the challenges faced in the mass propagation of some vegetable varieties.

Both speakers outlined the future strategies to develop successful technologies and cultivars for diversified vegetable production with high nutritional values.

Earlier, CAFT Director Happy Dev Sharma presented a report of the training programme. Several eminent scientists of the country delivered talks on cutting-edge research aspects of diversified vegetable production and nutritional security, he added.

The deliberations focused on the current vegetable technology to match the food requirements of the ever-increasing population. Participation certificates were given to the trainees and a compendium of the training was released. The training programme was concluded with a vote of thanks by co-coordinator Meenu Gupta.