A one day training programme on Novel Processing and Value Addition in Tapioca & ‘Ethnic Tuber Crops Festival’ was jointly organized by ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, in collaboration with the District Administration of Wokha, Government of Nagaland, and ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Wokha. The event was held on 24 February 2025, at TIYI Hall, Wokha, and attracted 150 participants. The event was graced by Mhathung Yanthan, MLA and Advisor, Department of Agriculture, Government of Nagaland as the special guest.

In his inaugural address, Mhathung Yanthan, MLA and Advisor, Department of Agriculture, Government of Nagaland, expressed his pleasure at being part of the event and praised the organisers for hosting the important training programme. Yanthan acknowledged the critical role of tuber crops, particularly tapioca, in the region’s agricultural system due to their resilience to climatic challenges and ease of cultivation. He highlighted that Nagaland is the fourth-largest producer of tapioca and emphasized the potential for enhancing the value chain, processing, and market access for these crops.

He stressed the need to explore innovative processing techniques to add value to tapioca and boost income for farmers, particularly those involved in SHGs and smallholder farms. Yanthan also underscored the importance of collaborative research to enhance the quality of local varieties, improve productivity, and expand the market for value-added products such as tapioca flour and starch. He called for continued efforts in entrepreneurship and emphasized the importance of collaborative work between government bodies, research institutions, and farmers to improve productivity and market opportunities. In closing, he urged for adaptive trials to identify the best varieties for local conditions, particularly in light of climate change challenges.

Vineet Kumar, in his welcome address, emphasized the significance of the training programme in enhancing the value and productivity of tuber crops, especially tapioca. He highlighted how the event serves as an opportunity to help farmers increase their income through improved farming techniques, better market access, and innovative processing methods.

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Dr. G. Byju, Director of ICAR-CTCRI, congratulated the organisers and participants through an online presidential address. He reaffirmed ICAR-CTCRI’s ongoing commitment to advancing research and development in tuber crops and processing, and highlighted the importance of continued collaboration among government agencies, research bodies, and local communities.

The technical sessions featured expert speakers including Dr. R. Muthuraj, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CTCRI, who spoke on Improved Varieties and Quality Planting Material Production in Tapioca; Dr. D. Jaganathan, Senior Scientist, ICAR-CTCRI, who discussed Economics and Marketing of Tapioca; and Dr. T. Krishnakumar, Scientist, ICAR-CTCRI, who presented on Novel Processing Techniques and Value Addition in Tapioca. These sessions provided valuable insights into best practices for cultivation, effective marketing strategies, and innovative processing techniques to increase the economic returns from tapioca farming.

An interactive Q&A session followed, allowing farmers and stakeholders the opportunity to engage with experts and ask questions about various aspects of tapioca cultivation, processing, and marketing.

The inaugural session was chaired by Thungbeni Kikon, with special remarks from Dr. R. Muthuraj, Principal Scientist & PI, NEH Programme, ICAR-CTCRI, and Dr. H. Kalita, Head, Regional Centre, ICAR RC for NEH, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani. Short speeches were also delivered by department officials, including the CIH, Nagaland, Additional Director of Agriculture, Director of Horticulture, and IFS Rajiv Shankar.

The Inaugural programme concluded with remarks by Anuranjan Singh, Skill Development Officer, Wokha, and the technical session was brought to a close with a vote of thanks by Dr. Sandeep Deshmukh, Senior Scientist & Head, ICAR-KVK, Wokha.