Ooty: Vegetable growers in Nilgiris, who are shell-shocked about the movemade by the ICAR to close Central Potato Research Station in Ooty(CPRS-Ooty), wanted the Union government to reject this proposal at once. Making this claim, Mr B . Krishnamoorthy, president of the Nilgiris Potato and Vegetable Growers Association said that potato is a major vegetable crop in Nilgiris wherein it is still being cultivated in around 4,000 hectares to 5,000 hectares across the hill district.
"Every potato grower in Nilgiris and in other parts of South India knows the contribution made by CPRS-Ooty in lending a helping hands to the potato growers at various times of trials and tribulations andhelped the farming community by developing new hybrid and disease resistance potato varieties. When the CPRS-Ooty is doing well and its service to the potato growers has been exemplary, why the present move to close it down," he asked.
"It is learnt the recommendation made by ICAR to close down CPRS-Ooty is pending with the Union agriculture ministry.
It is also learnt that this was made in order to make some rearrangements in research activities. Whatever be the reason, the CPRS-Ooty should not be closed as its research and service is ever wanted in Nilgiris.”
“The farmers in Nilgiris will appeal to the lawmakers from Nilgiris as well as the Tamil Nadu government to take it up with the Central government to save the CPRS-Ooty and to sanction more funds and other related facilities to CPRS-Ooty to continue with the research on potatoes," he said.
