Kerala biodiversity board to revive tuber crop farming

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cultivation of tuber crops in Kerala, which once enjoyed a significant position among food crops in the state, is all set to get a revival with the Kerala State Biodiversity Board taking up a scheme in this regard.

The KSBB has proposed a Tuber Germplasm conservation programme in Onattukara in Alappuzha district to conserve and enrich tuber crop diversity in the state.

According to KSBB officials, the revival of traditional tuber crop cultivation is significant in the time of global warming and climate change as they can withstand any extreme condition and provide good harvest.

Onattukara is selected for the conservation programme as it had been a hub of tuber crops once, they said.

A top KSBB official said many traditional tuber crop varieties are on the verge of extinction in the state.

"Under the plan, KSBB will join hands with Mavelikkara municipallity and village panchayats in Thazhakkara, Mannar, Chennithala, Thekkekkara and Chettikulangara to impart training for selected farmers in tuber crop cultivation," KSBB Member Secretary K P Laladas said.

Quality seeds of selected tuber crop species would be made available to them to spread their cultivation, he said.

As many as 13 species of tuber crops, available in Onattukara region, had been identified by the Board for the programme, he said.

A list of 29 other tuber crop varities, which could be introduced in the area, had also been prepared, he said.