In a world that produces enough food for everyone,
around 800 million people in the developing world do
not have enough to eat. About 1 out of 5 persons,
lack sufficient food to live healthy and active
lives. The world-wide and every year, eleven million
children under the age of 5 die of hunger and
malnutrition. In regions where the hunger is wide
spread, majority of the population has no hope of
economic or social advancement.
The important
challenge facing agriculture in the new millennium
is to eliminate chronic hunger. If the solution were
to produce more food it was simple to claim success
ahead, but in practice, access to food is not
equitable either among or within countries. In the
same vein, safe and better quality food is equally
important to ensure that people not only have
sufficient energy but also the nutrients necessary
for adequate productive lives.
It is widely accepted now that agriculture must
diversify production and achieve sustainable higher
output and at the same time safeguard the
environment and conserve natural resources and adapt
to climate changes and teeming population.
In order to release the pressure on cereals as
well as to improve upon the human nutrition through
consumption of the other nutritious crops,
diversification in cropping pattern provides better
option. The increased production and consumption of
horticultural crops including vegetables with its
wide adoption and provider of important nutrients
offer promise for the future. Vegetables are rich
source of nutrients (especially vitamins and
minerals), besides its medicinal values.
In this spirit and in the wake of the present
global call for eliminating food and nutrition
insecurity, the technologists, entrepreneurs, policy
makers and those interested in agriculture were
invited to participate and contribute to fruitful
dialogue in the ICV forum from 11-14 November, 2002
at Bangalore, India.
The ICV-2002 was inaugurated on 11th November,
2002 by Mr. S. M. Krishna, Honorable Chief Minister
of the State of Karnataka, India and was presided
over by Mr. Som Pal, Member, Planning Commission
(Agriculture), Government of India and Mr. M. Shivanna, Karnataka State Minister of Horticulture
was the Guest of Honor. The occasion was graced by
Mr. May Sam Oeun, Secretary of Agriculture,
Government of Cambodia; Dr. Daniel Gustafson, FAO
Representative to India and Bhutan; Dr. Samson C. S. Tsou,
Director General of Asian Vegetable Research &
Development Center, Taiwan and others. Many
dignitaries of national and international repute
also graced the function. The philosophy of the
Conference was to address vegetable as a supplement
to food and nutritional security of the growing
world population and establish technical cooperation
among developing countries (TCDC) an evolving
concept. The conference had 18 sponsors and 31
collaborators from world over.
The Dr. Prem Nath Agricultural Science Foundation
(PNASF) jointly with the Indian Society of Vegetable
Science (ISVS) and the Indian Institute of
Horticultural Research (IIHR), and in collaboration
with other interested national and international
institutions took initiative to organize this
Conference for the first time. The Conference
brought together, multidisciplinary scientists,
policy makers and progressive farmers to handle the
complex problems of poverty, food and nutrition
security and sustainability.
The ICV-Souvenir brought about on this occasion
contained selected guest papers from the senior
international experts on the main theme of the
Conference entitled "Vegetables for Sustainable Food
and Nutritional Security in the New Millennium",
which set the stage for brain storming sessions in
the thirteen theme areas. The papers highlighted the
theme, philosophy, present scenario and steps
undertaken on global, regional and national level on
food and nutritional security on up-liftment of
human kind world-wide.
This conference provided an excellent forum
allowing brainstorming sessions for 3 full days
covering wide-spectrum issues on food and
nutritional security plaguing the developing world.
The wide range issues covered need of agricultural
technological development leading to high quality
and productivity; socio-economic conditions focusing
more on accessibility to food; marketing and trade
issues emanating from subsistence farmers as well as
large farmers leading to production for national
food and nutrition security and to export market and
the issues facing farmers in the new WTO regime. The
ICV extended its discussion on finding ways and
means to establish an international network to
develop and sustain technical cooperation among
participating countries in the whole area of
vegetable sector. The discussion in these sessions
were introduced and discussed by the eminent
national and international lead speakers in the area
of expertise followed by selected contributory
papers.
A total of 60 lead papers from national and
international authors were presented. A total of 621
papers accepted for presentation in the Conference.
The total programme was integrated vertically,
horizontally and radially and managed efficiently to
derive full benefits. To achieve this objective, it
was further suggested that a well-integrated network
of competent institutions and other bodies should be
created in the name of VEGINET.
During the Conference, the Late Dr. G. S. Randhawa Memorial Lecture on the
"Role of AVRDC in
the context of Recent Challenges to the vegetable
sector in Asia" was delivered by Dr. Samson C. S. Tsou, Director General, Asian Vegetable Research and
Development Centre (AVRDC), Taiwan. It was presided
over by Dr. Prem Nath, Chairman, P. N. Agricultural
Science Foundation and the ICV memorial plaque was
presented to the speaker by Mrs. G. S. Randhawa. The
Late Acharya Dharmsheela Nath Memorial Lecture
on
"Appropriate Technology for Sustainable Food
Security" was delivered by Dr. Dyno Keating, Deputy
Director General, on behalf of Dr. William D. Dar,
Director General, International Crops Research
Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad. It was
presided over by Prof. V. L. Chopra, President,
Indian Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the ICV
Memorial plaque was presented to the speaker by Ms. Shyamla Nath, daughter of
Late Acharya Dharmsheela
Nath.
During this occasion, the FAO extended support by
offering HORTIVAR Training Programme under the
leadership of Dr. Wilfried Baudoin of FAO
headquarters in Rome. HORTIVAR is FAO’s database
which facilitates the access and dissemination of
information on horticultural cultivar performance
according to eco-zones and crop management
practices. 190 participants benefited from the
training programme.
The ICV-Organizing Council was encouraged greatly
by the overwhelming national and highly encouraging
international response of the professionals with a
total of 661 participants registered from 37
countries.
The ICV had received outstanding support from the
Dr. Prem Nath Agricultural Science Foundation (PNASF),
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR)
and Indian Society of Vegetable Science (ISVS)
in
organizing this Conference. The Food and Agriculture
Organization has supported the ICV in terms of its
organization, providing guest and lead papers,
training programme and case studies and in
sponsoring selected lead speakers and participants
from world over.
The ICV-2002 Salient Recommendations on 13 Theme
Areas provide deep insight into the core issues of
policy, technology and developmental sub-sectors of
vegetable industry particularly facing the
developing world and to be considered at the
national, regional and global levels.
The major output of this conference as
envisaged is:
- Participation of countries from Africa, USA, Canada, Europe, near East and Asia;
- Coverage of the complete Vegetable Sector;
- Development of salient recommendations and resolution; and
- Establishment of the International Vegetable Science Network (VEGINET).
The ICV-2002, Bangalore Resolution in forming
VEGINET marked the first milestone in the Vegetable
World with its global perspective.
BANGALORE RESOLUTION ON VEGETABLES SCIENCE
INTERNATIONAL NETWORK (VEGINET)
The International Conference on Vegetables - 2002
held at Bangalore with main focus on "Vegetables for
Sustainable Food and Nutritional Security"
represented by 661 delegates from 37 countries
comprising of scientists, technocrats, developmental
personnel, industrialists, representatives from
corporate houses, diplomats, policy makers and
farmers deliberated on various issues pertaining to
the entire gamut of vegetable production and
utilization. Recommendations emerging out of
thirteen theme areas were discussed and debated. The
collective ideas, intellect and wisdom culminated in
'The Bangalore Resolution'.
The Resolution To further the cause of addressing issues relating
to food and nutritional security by way of promoting
vegetables as one of the most important dietary
components, in the wake of fighting global hunger
and malnutrition, the participating nations
representatives unanimously recognized the need and
importance of a vegetable network and ICV - 2002
resolves to support the establishment of a Vegetable
Network.
The ICV-2002 Resolves formation of a Vegetable
Science International Network, 'VEGINET' to create
awareness, understanding and cooperation amongst the
institutions of various developed and developing
nations to come together and promote the major theme
of the Conference "Vegetables for Sustainable Food
and Nutritional Security in the New Millennium". The
ICV-2002 further resolves to constitute a Nomination
Committee representing different nations with the
task of nominating The Executive Council Members of
the 'VEGINET' and the PNASF, Bangalore, India will
host the Secretariat and take action on organizing
the next Conference in 2005. The Nomination
Committee consisted of the following member,
- Dr. Prem Nath - Convener
- Dr. W. O. Baudoin - Member (FAO) / Chief Advisor
- Dr. M. L. Anothai Choomsai - Member (Thailand)
- Dr. O. A. Denton - Member (Nigeria)
- Dr. H. A. B. Parpia - Member (India)
- Dr. R. K. N. Singh - Member (Canada)
- Dr G. Anais - Member (Carribean)
- Representatives from - Latin America.
The ICV-2002 Resolves to urge International
Organizations like FAO to extend their support in
such task keeping in view the strong pro-active role
being played by them in Technical Cooperation among
Developing Countries (TCDC). It was recommended that
FAO supports this initiative in an advisory and
catalytic capacity.
The ICV-2002 recognized the special support
expressed by the participating national /
international institutions from FAO, Nigeria,
Thailand, India & others.
The ICV-2002 Resolves to appeal nations like USA,
Switzerland, Germany and Japan for their cooperation
and support in creation of the Vegetable Network
i.e., 'VEGINET' and extend help in the form of
possible contribution and expertise.
SALIENT RECOMMENDATIONS (ICV-2002)
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Vegetables for Sustainable Food and Nutrition
Security in the New Millennium
The ICV-2002 addressed 13 theme areas covering
various aspects pertaining to the entire gamut of
vegetable research and development. The aspects
included vegetable improvement in production,
protection, under utilized vegetables, post
harvest management, developmental policies and
programmes, marketing and trade including WTO
policies and programmes and finally technical
cooperation among developing countries, to harness
the genetic and eco-diversity of the vegetable
crops for sustainable nutritional security of the
growing population especially in developing
countries. Each theme area, chaired by a nodal
person, had papers presented by eminent scientists
of national and international repute. In all there
were 60 lead papers, 128 oral and 433 poster
presentations during the deliberations.
The conference provided an opportunity to bring
together, multi-disciplinary scientific teams,
policy makers, industry and progressive farmers to
handle the problems of poverty, food and nutrition
security and sustainability. The salient
recommendations of the ICV-2002 are as follows,
- Value Added Germplasm
- Genetic Improvement In Vegetable Crops
- Bio-Technological Applications In Vegetable Crops
- Production Technology In Vegetable Crops
- Protection Technology In Vegetable Crops
- Post Harvest Management In Vegetable Crops
- Organic Vegetable Production
- Hybrid Seed Production
- Vegetable And Nutrition
- Under-Utilized Vegetables
- Marketing And Trade
- Development Policies And Programmes
- Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries (TCDC)
The details of the recommendation of each Theme
Area are available in CD ROM at the PNASF. |
