Wed Dec 25 14:27:33 UTC 2024: ## CPCRI to Host National Seminar and Exhibition on Sustainable Plantation Development
**Mangaluru, Dec 25, 2024** – The Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) in Kasaragod, Kerala, will celebrate its 109th foundation day with a three-day national seminar and exhibition starting January 3, 2025. The event, themed “Harnessing the Plantation Sector for Sustainable Development Goals,” aims to assess progress towards the UN’s SDGs and strategize for the next five years.
The seminar will bring together scientists, students, entrepreneurs, government officials, farmers, and other stakeholders. ICAR Director General Himanshu Pathak will inaugurate the event on January 3rd. The program includes invited speakers, panel discussions, presentations, field visits, and the awarding of young researcher prizes. Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for technology transfer will also be signed.
A large exhibition showcasing technologies from various ICAR institutes and development agencies will run concurrently. The display will feature advancements in coconut, cashew, spices, tuber crops, oil palm, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, fisheries, rubber, and coffee cultivation. Value-added products, seeds, seedlings, biofertilizers, equipment, handicrafts, and agro-finance options will also be available. On-site training in coconut/arecanut cultivation, value addition, and chocolate making will be offered.
The event anticipates significant attendance, including high-ranking ICAR officials, cooperative society presidents, and researchers nationwide. The CPCRI director, K.B. Hebbar, highlighted the plantation sector’s vital role in combating hunger, poverty, and environmental challenges. The seminar will focus on relevant SDGs, including biodiversity, AI applications, regenerative agriculture, eco-friendly pest management, mechanization, market trends, policy, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment.
First Piper 