Source: TH
The ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) plans to expand its tuber-based “rainbow diet” campaign to more areas in India with significant tribal populations.
The campaign aims to promote biofortified tubers and value-added products made from them to combat malnutrition and ensure a balanced diet. In the current fiscal year, the campaign will be launched in Odisha, targeting nine districts with large tribal populations.
What are Tuber crops?
Tuber crops are plants that produce edible underground storage structures called tubers. These tubers serve as a source of nutrients and energy for the plant. Examples of tuber crops include potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, and cassava.
- The initiative focuses on popularizing orange-fleshed sweet potato, purple-fleshed sweet potato, and purple-fleshed yam, which are rich in beneficial compounds.
ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (HQ: Thiruvananthapuram) focuses on research and development related to tuber crops such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, and cassava
- The CTCRI has previously introduced biofortified sweet potato varieties in Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.
- The institute has also unveiled a “Tuber Crops Rainbow Diet Plate” featuring biofortified sweet potato, cassava, and millets.
- The CTCRI’s efforts aim to develop improved tuber varieties and explore tuber-millet combinations for nutritious value-added products.
