National Brassica Conference-2014
Crop Brassicas are important sources of edible oil with lowest amount of saturated fats, oilseeds and leafy vegetables rich in minerals and anti-oxidants, and tasteful condiments crops. Rapeseed-mustard is an important group of oilseed crops accounting about one-fourth of the total oilseeds production in the country. These crops are predominantly grown on varied soils of diverse agro-climatic regions in India. The current production of oilseeds in the country meets only 50% of domestic needs of edible oils, the deficit is being covered with import mainly of palm oil of more than Rs 50,000 crores per annum. With the present level of production and productivity, the demand-supply gap of edible oils in future is anticipated to increase further due to expected increase in population and better living standard. Rapeseed-mustard group of crops adapted to varied agro-climatic and management conditions have the potential to bridge this gap through genetic enhancement and technological breakthroughs. Vegetable Brassicas such as cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli are also important sources of mineral nutrients and antioxidants.
Production of these crops is impacted by several abiotic and biotic stresses, and uncertain economics. The threat of anticipated climate change is looming and calls for new initiatives to face the challenge. Small and fragmented oil & vegetable processing sector, lack of incentives for quality produce, absence of support from critical input industries etc. are adding to the woes of the brassica producers. The challenges of ensuring edible oil and nutritional security through enhanced access to Brassica oilseeds and vegetables in the face of rising input costs, biotic and abiotic stresses and stakeholders' aspirations can only be addressed with thoughtful deliberations among policy Planners, researchers, academicians, corporates, supply chains organizations and farmers. The proposed conference offers a platform to research and extension scientists from research institutions universities, technology dissemination departments, seed and input supplying organizations and industries to focus on different Brassicas for addressing issue pertaining to edible oils production to bridge demand-supply gap and nutritional security to improve human health through nutrient rich oils and vegetables. Bringing together oilseed and vegetable Brassicas on common plateform is intended to promote cross learning among larger Brassica fraternity. It will also serve the forum of networking among scientist and promote flow of knowledge and traits across commodity domains.
Thematic Areas
- Evolution, Trait Genetics & Breeding
- Crop Protection: Challenges & Prospects
- Crop Management: Challenges & Possibilities
- Crop Physiology & Nutritional quality
- Genomics and Transgenics
