Dr Mangi Lal Jat, DG, ICAR, has informed that they will join hands with the Indian Council of Medical Research to achieve the goal of nutrition security in the country. He was speaking at the inaugural of the four-day Indian Horticultural Congress in Bengaluru today. Dr Mangi Lal informed that a meeting will be held with the Medical Research Council on November 11 in New Delhi on a mandate given by the Prime Minister to encourage bio-fortified foods, agro-biodiversity and strengthen the local food system.
He said a robust programme on nutrition is needed and added that the Ayush department is working with ICAR on promoting medicinal and aromatic plants in India. He called upon agri scientists to come out of their silos and work in coordination with other institutes and visit live fields of farmers to design their research projects. He also laid importance on private-public partnership. Padma Bhushan Dr R.S. Paroda, former Secretary DARE and DG, ICAR, Dr R.S. Paroda speaking as the Chief Guest in the inaugural event, said that the horticulture production has grown in India to over 367 million tonnes.
This was possible due to policy support, active institutions, progressive farmers and infrastructure development. The per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables has also increased from four kgs to 9 kgs per month in two decades, registering a growth of 3.7 per cent. India has today taken up the cultivation of Avocado and Kiwi fruits. To replace imported apples with Indian apple varieties, he advocated for high-yielding better better-quality orchards in the country. He urged the need to increase protected cultivation, market linkage, value addition, genetic resource conservation, and reduce post-harvest losses.
