Odisha: CUO, CIP Demonstrate New Potato Seed Production Technologies
There was scope for strengthening academic and research collaboration between CUO and CIP: CIP Global Scientist Dr. Kalpana Sharma
KORAPUT (Odisha): The Central University of Odisha (CUO), in collaboration with the International Potato Center (CIP), Peru, on Wednesday inaugurated polyhouse and net-house facilities for potato cutting and rooted-cutting production under protected cultivation at its campus in Sunabeda, Koraput.
The facilities were inaugurated by CUO Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Ajit Kumar Shasany during a Potato Innovation and Technology Demonstration Programme organised by the university’s Department of Agriculture in collaboration with CIP.
The programme focused on potato seed production technologies, protected cultivation, research collaboration and capacity building. Scientists from CIP demonstrated techniques including aeroponics and apical root cutting for production of quality potato planting material.
CIP Global Scientist Dr. Kalpana Sharma, along with Dr. Elly Atieno and Dr. Nabakishore Parida, attended the programme. CUO Dean Prof. Narasingha Charan Panda was also present.
Dr. Sharma said there was scope for strengthening academic and research collaboration between CUO and CIP. She suggested involving agriculture students in ongoing CIP research projects to provide them with practical exposure to potato technologies and international research practices.
Prof. Shasany stressed the need for institutional collaboration between the two organisations and suggested initiating the process for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The proposed collaboration could cover joint research, student training, technology demonstration and capacity-building programmes.
Head of the CUO department of agriculture Dr. Manjushree Singh welcomed the visiting CIP scientists and outlined the department’s work in agricultural research and technology demonstration.
Dr. Atieno and Dr. Parida spoke about their engagement with the Department of Agriculture over the past four months and shared their experiences of working with the university.
The visiting scientists, university officials, faculty members and students subsequently visited the polyhouse and net-house facilities, where the production of potato cuttings and rooted cuttings under protected cultivation was demonstrated.
The programme is part of efforts by the CUO department of agriculture to introduce newer potato production and seed multiplication technologies in the Koraput region.
