International Symposium on Edible Alliums: Challenges and Opportunities concludes12 th February, 2019
The four-days long “International Symposium on Edible Alliums: Challenges and Opportunities” organized during 9th to 12th February 2019 by Indian Society of Alliums and ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (DOGR), Rajgurunagar, Pune at Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA) concluded.
Dr. Kirti Singh Ex. Chairman of ASRB was the Chief Guest of the function. Dr. A. K. Singh DDG, Horticulture and Crop Science and Dr. K. P. Vishwanatha, Vice Chancellor, MPKV, Rahuri were the Guest of Honour and Dr. T. Janakiram, ADG (Hort.) was special invitee for the programme. Dr. K. E. Lawande, President, Indian Society of Alliums, Dr. Major Singh Director, ICAR-DOGR, Pune, Dr. S. N. Puri, Former, VC, MPKV, Rahuri and Dr. Venkat Mayande, Ex. VC, Dr. PDKV Akola and Dr. V. Mahajan, organizing secretory were present on the occasion.
Dr. Kirti Singh in his address mentioned that the India has achieved remarkable growth in onion production and scientists have good contribution in onion and garlic research and development in the country. There is need of more attention towards policy framework to mitigate price crises in onion.
Dr. A. K. Singh appreciated the efforts of ICAR-DOGR taken in technology development and transfer in onion and garlic in India. However, there is need to focus more on development of storage capacity and minimization of post-harvest losses. Inter-state disparity in onion production causes more transportation cost. The major challenge is to stabilize the prices of onion and doubling the farmers’ income.
Dr. K. E. Lawande stressed on the need to increase the capacity of storage from 20 lakh to 40 lakh tonnes. The shift is needed from traditional cultivation practices to more mechanization, improved storage, high yielding varieties and market-oriented production.
Dr. K. P. Vishwanatha appealed that farmers need to be organized into Farmers Producer Companies for increased collective bargaining power. Dr. T Janakiram has appreciated the efforts of the institute for taking initiative for bringing various stakeholders on the single platform with this symposium.
In the symposium, about 200 researchers, academicians, industrialists and other stakeholders from India, Japan, South Korea and Israel were participated. The symposium was conducted in 9 sessions and issues, studies and opportunities were presented and discussed by various participants.
