CTRI expanding research to products other than tobacco

Kakinada: Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI) director M. Sheshu Madhav said in accordance with the mandate received from Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), CTRI is expanding its research on tobacco to also focus on turmeric, chillies, castor and Ashwagandha.

Participating in annual institute research committee meeting held in Rajamahendravaram on Friday, Sheshu Madhav said CTRI is giving high priority to communication technology by developing AgriDash portal, Digital Field Notebook and Seed Portal at a cost of ₹1.80 crore. These will help the farming community by enabling digital transactions.

The CTRI director said their institute has signed MoUs with the Tobacco Board, CSIR, Adikavi Nannayya University and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to improve technology. He underlined that scientists at the crop improvement division of CTRI have presented the results achieved during their research. These achievements will be discussed with experts for taking up action plans during the future.

CTRI Research Station principal scientist and head M. Anuradha, principal scientist and head of crop improvement division M. Sujatha and former ICAR-CTRI director T.G.K. Murthy were present.