About the Summit
Indigenous and underutilized horticultural crops hold immense potential in promoting health and nutritional security, especially in regions grappling with malnutrition and food insecurity. These crops adapted well to the local climatic and soil conditions and have been cultivated traditionally by communities for generations but received limited attention in modern agricultural practices and commercial food production systems.
Many indigenous horticultural crops are nutritionally superior to our staple food crops. For instance, several indigenous vegetables and fruits are excellent source of antioxidants and dietary nutrients. Tuber crops including yams and cassava, provide a good source of carbohydrates, fibres and secondary metabolites beneficial for health. By incorporating these crops in our daily diets, we can combat micronutrient deficiencies and enhance overall dietary diversity.
This Summit will provide a valuable platform to all stakeholders, including eminent scientists, teachers, researchers, students, farmers, entrepreneurs, policy-makers etc. to interact and share their noble experience during Summit. This platform will provide an excellent opportunity to update with the latest research and developmental activities to all stakeholders.
Summit Objectives
Harnessing the diversity of indigenous and underutilized horticultural crops with therapeutic and nutraceutical benefits.
Promoting crop diversification to enhance productivity and livelihoods in different agroclimatic zones.
Deploying cost-effective and scalable solutions to improve profitability and sustainability in horticultural farming.
Advanced strategies like biotechnological tools, molecular breeding and genome editing for genetic improvement of horticultural crops.
Strengthening plant health management through integrated, data-driven, and eco-sensitive solutions.
Development of climate-resilient technologies for sustainable horticultural production.
Promoting carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and eco-friendly practices to combat environmental degradation.
Eco-friendly approaches for controlling pests and diseases, including biological controls and organic methods.
Advancing clean, green, and health-conscious production systems that align with global sustainability goals.