Port Blair, Apr 08: Andaman Science Association in technical collaboration with ICAR- Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair and Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi is organizing a Virtual National Conference on “Underutilized Horticultural Genetic Resources: Conservation and Utilization” during 03rd to 04th June 2022.
Several underutilized/lesser-known horticultural species are contributing immensely to our daily life. These species include locally/regionally popular fruits, vegetables, and spices, which provide nutritional security to the local masses.
Further, several medicinal and aromatic plants, dye-yielding plants, ornamental plants, etc. have also supported the lives of the poor across the country. These neglected species could also help in developing strategies for addressing the issues imposed by climate change.
However, most of these species are neither thoroughly researched nor cultivated, and supplies are mainly from scattered plantations or the wild. The creation of awareness about the role of such species in the nutritional and livelihood security of the masses and promotion of their cultivation is the need of the hour. Conservation and sustainable utilization are of paramount importance in this process and this event is a holistic one to address these issues.
The conference will have technical sessions on different aspects of underutilized species in which talks will be delivered by subject experts from all over the country. Academicians, researchers and students from various institutions/ organizations of the islands are invited to register for the event and submit findings of their research to the conference.
Technically qualified abstracts will be selected for presentation during the conference as oral or poster presentations. In each thematic area, Best Oral and Poster presenters will be awarded. The programme is organized as a part of “Azadika Amrit Mahotsav” under the leadership of Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
Information brochure of the event could be downloaded from the link https://ciari.icar.gov.in/images/Brochure_NCUHGR.pdf.
For further details, interested participants may contact the organizers: Dr. Ajit A. Waman, Scientist, ICAR- CIARI (9933263441, ajit.arun@icar.gov.in) or Dr. Pooja Bohra, Scientist, ICAR-CIARI (9933263442, pooja.bohra@icar.gov.in).
