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OBJECTIVE
The objective of the conference was to develop a
plan to guide the development of cost-effective and
efficient horticultural interventions to generate
additional employment and income opportunities, crop
diversifications through increased production and
consumption of horticultural crops, provide better
food and nutritional security, and improve health
status by prevention of non-communicable diseases
and micronutrient deficient disorders, all leading
to livelihood security of farmers, particularly
small and marginal ones, and overall economic growth
in the interest of both producers and consumers.
PARTICIPANTS AND SESSIONS
About 750 delegates from 40 countries including
Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Central Asia, Europe,
Middle East and United States participated in the
deliberations of the conference. There were 17
technical sessions including a seminar, covering six
theme areas viz; Technological Domain; Institutional
and Policy Support: Socio - Economic Domains;, Theme
Area III: Producer – Consumer Domain; Technical
Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC);
Challenges and Opportunities in Horticulture -
Seminar; Plenary Session: Opportunities and Future
Thrusts. A total of 650 presentations including 35
lead lectures, 250 oral, and 365 poster
presentations were given. The Dr. B.P. Pal Memorial
Lecture entitled “Horticulture and Health: Ancient
and Medieval Views” was delivered by Professor
Jules Janick, USA and the Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Memorial
Lecture entitled “Changing patterns of consumption,
economic growth and food security: examining India’s
experience in a global context” was delivered by
Dr.
Keith Wiebe, FAO, Rome. As a part of the conference,
FAO sponsored HORTIVAR Training was also organized
where about 100 scientists, professors, students and
progressive farmers were trained.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The Conference recognized horticulture as the
second line of defense with cereals and legumes
serving as the first line in the food domain. It was
estimated and stated that horticulture (a) supports
significantly to food security, (b) is the major
contributor of nutrition security, (c) promotes good
health, and (d) is source of employment generation -
all leading to livelihood security and further
economic growth.
2. The technological advancements were
recognized and the contributions accounted. Some
of the highlights were as follows:
- Attention may be given to breeding varieties
that can grow with low-input agro techniques and in
an extended growing season, and to develop varieties
and production technologies suitable to urban and peri-urban locations. 2.2 Underutilized,
under-exploited volunteer and wild genotypes that
offer livelihood security for tribal and ethnic
communities should, be promoted in the native form
by research organizations and NGO’s.
- Research work should be augmented on
promoting fruits, vegetables, spices, medicinal and
aromatic plants to preventing various
non-communicable diseases, and on antioxidants and nutraceuticals in collaboration with WHO, FAO and
other institutions.
- Use of biotechnological tools and genetic
engineering is less pronounced in horticultural
crops, particularly in developing countries, and
should to be strengthened and accelerated. Emphasis
should be laid on specific traits like resistance to
insect pests, drought and heat tolerance and
extension of shelf-life of produce.
- Global quality parameters should be
standardized for various fruits and vegetables,
spices, tuber crops and flower crops, and Good
Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices
should be developed for each crop; to enhance
competitiveness and promote exports. Likewise, this
should be popularized amongst the small and marginal
farmers.
- Protocols/technologies may be
developed/standardized for production of
botanicals/plant products, bio-pesticides,
bio-fertilizers and bio-control agents at the farm
gate levels and unemployed youth may be trained for
production of these in order to reduce production
cost, generate gainful employments and prevent
migration to urban areas in search of employment.
- There is a need to study and understand
agro-ecosystems diversity with respect to
horticultural crops and its impact on livelihood
security. In this context bio-intensive farm modules
involving various horticultural crops need to be
developed and promoted.
- Cost effective hybrid seed production
protocols may be developed to reduce the cost of
hybrid seeds, which can be affordable by small and
marginal farmers. Phytosanitary certification
standards for various seed and plant materials of
horticultural crops for imports/exports need to be
reviewed.
- Various organic cultivation practices in
vogue for different horticultural crops should be
validated scientifically and cost-benefit-ratios
should be worked out. Among the developing nations,
the Transfer Technology Structure needs a drastic
change in order to meet the needs of the rural
populations.
- Awareness and education programme on food,
nutrition and health security should be launched.
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3. To build awareness of supply chain and value
chain among the farmers.
4. A wealth of technical information and ample
number of technologies available but not accessible
could be sourced through net-working of institutes
and organizations for exchange of information, seed
and plant materials and expertise. The FAO under the
umbrella of Technical Cooperation among Developing
Countries (TCDC) has successfully implemented a
special programme for food security and in
low-income-food-deficit countries under South-South
co-operation and may act as facilitator for
formation and strengthening such networks like
VEGINET (Vegetable Science International Network).
5. Horticultural education and research is not
attracting the younger generation and talents at
expected levels worldwide. At this juncture, it is
essential to update the university syllabus, improve
the quality of research, which should be more
farmer’s driven and not scientist’s driven.
6. The recommendations emerging out of this
conference should be distributed among all the stake
holders and government organizations for possible
implementation and policy interventions by the
governments.
Honored Attendance: The importance of the
conference was highlighted by the presence of His
Excellency The Governor of Karnataka, Mr. H. R. Bhardwaj, as the Chief Guest who inaugurated the
conference and graced by Minister of Agriculture,
Mr. S.A.Ravindranath; Minister for Major and Medium
Irrigation, Mr. Basavaraj S. Bommai, Government of
Karnataka; Mr. M. V. Rajasekharan, former Union
Minister of State for Planning; and Professor V. L.
Chopra, former Member, Planning Commission,
Government of India as Guests of Honor. Dr. Prem
Nath, Chairperson, Organizing Committee, ICH-2009
delivered the keynote address. The inaugural
audience was welcomed by Dr. P. G. Chengappa,
Vice-Chancellor, University of Agricultural
Sciences, Bangalore
National and International Awards: Another
highlight of the conference was the International
and National gold and silver medal awards for known
personalities who had contributed significantly to
agriculture/horticulture, food and nutritional
security. The recipients of the international gold
medal awards by the Chief Guest were Prof. Jules Janick, Distinguished Professor of Horticulture,
Purdue University, USA (Promotion of Horticultural
Science); Dr. Mahmoud Solh, Director General, ICARDA,
Syria (Promotion of Dryland Horticulture), and
Mr. Wilfried O. Baudoin, former Head of Horticulture
Group, FAO, Rome (Promotion of Vegetable Science).
The PNASF National Gold Medal Awards were given
to Dr. R.S. Paroda (Promotion of Agricultural
Research); Dr. Anupam Varma (Promotion of Plant
Protection Research); Dr. S. Bisalaiah (Promotion of
Economic Agriculture); Prof. R.S. Deshpande,
(Research on Agriculture Policy); and Dr. K.V. Peter
(Promotion of Horticulture Science). The PNASF
Silver Medal Awards were given to Dr. K.R.M. Swamy,
Dr. B.S. Prabhakar and Dr. D.P. Kumar of Bangalore
for promotion of vegetables and horticulture.
The Organizing Committee of the ICH-2009 honored
the following with ICH Silver Plaques presented by
the Chief guest, the Governor of Karnataka, Shri
H.R. Bhardwaj; Dr. P. G. Chengappa, Vice Chancellor,
University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
(Outstanding Academic Leader in Agriculture); Dr. O.
P. Dutta, Secretary, Scientific Programme Committee,
ICH 2009 (Outstanding Scientific Programme Leader in
Horticulture); Dr. B. Raju, Chairman Logistic
Committee, ICH-2009 (Outstanding Contribution to
Conference Logistics).
BOOK RELEASE
Along with the ICH Souvenir and ICH Abstract
Book, a new book entitled “Foods and Nutrition”
authored by Dr. K.G.Ahuja, Dr. Prem Nath and
Dr. K.R.M.Swamy and published by PNASF and
Studium
Press, New Delhi was released on this occasion.
CULTURAL PROGRAMME
The occasion was highlighted by the cultural
programme organized on Indian classical music and
Polk dances during two evenings.
EXHIBITION
An exhibition showcasing the products and
technologies developed by private, public and NGO’s
in the field of horticulture was arranged for the
benefit of the delegates. A post-conference study
tour was also arranged for interested delegates.
Overall the conference was a success, benefiting
various stake holders of horticulture sector.
PROCEEDINGS
The Proceedings of the ICH-2009 will be published
during March, 2010 and copies will be available with
the PNASF.
ENQUIRIES TO
Dr. Prem Nath Chairman
Dr. P. N. Agricultural
Science Foundation (PNASF)
#9, 1st Cross, 1st Main,
1st Block,
Rajmahal Vilas (RMV) Extension 2nd Stage
Bangalore-560 094, Karnataka State, INDIA
Tel:
+91-80-23415188
Fax: +91-80-23511555
E-mail: drpremnath@vsnl.net
Website: www.pnasf.org |
