Kasargod: A six-day international meet on Asia-Pacific Cocoa Breeders Working Group was inaugurated on May 20 in Central Plant Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasargod.
Delivering the presidential address, Dr Venkatesh Hubballi, Director of Cashew and Cocoa Development Board said that in the international market, the quality of cocoa beans grown in India was best compared to other nations but it was important to upgrade the processing technology.
Inaugurating the programme, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Dr N Kumar said that more importance should be given to produce high yielding, disease resistant and pest resistant varieties. There should be a collaborative approach between the researchers in the field and thereby exchanging the plant varieties and technology between the countries, said the Vice Chancellor.
Dr Smilta Lambert, Director of Mars Chocolate Research Institute, gave an insight into the research activities in the Asia Pacific region.
Shankarayana Bhat of Campco, Dr H P Maheshwarappa, Coordinator of Pharma Research Project, Dr J Dileep Babu, Director of Research of Andhra Pradesh Horticultural University delivered speeches at the programme.
The workshop has organised visits of the group to CPCRI Vittal research field and Campco processing units.
Kerala Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and Andhra Pradesh Horticultural University researchers and scientists from 13 nations including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, America and Belgium and scientists from CPCRI Kasargod will be participating in the workshop.
