ICV - 2002
International Conference on Vegetables
In a world that produces enough food for everyone, around 800 million people in the developing world do not have enough to eat. About 1 out of 5 persons, lack sufficient food to live healthy and active lives. The world-wide and every year, eleven million children under the age of 5 die of hunger and malnutrition. In regions where the hunger is wide spread, majority of the population has no hope of economic or social advancement.
The important challenge facing agriculture in the new
millennium is to eliminate chronic hunger. If the solution were to produce
more food it was simple to claim success ahead, but in practice, access to
food is not equitable either among or within countries. In the same vein,
safe and better quality food is equally important to ensure that people not
only have sufficient energy but also the nutrients necessary for adequate
productive lives.
It is widely accepted now that agriculture must
diversify production and achieve sustainable higher output and at the same
time safeguard the environment and conserve natural resources and adapt to
climate changes and teeming population.
In order to release the pressure on cereals as well as
to improve upon the human nutrition through consumption of the other
nutritious crops, diversification in cropping pattern provides better
option. The increased production and consumption of horticultural crops
including vegetables with its wide adoption and provider of important
nutrients offer promise for the future. Vegetables are rich source of
nutrients (especially vitamins and minerals), besides its medicinal values.
In this spirit and in the wake of the present global call for eliminating food and nutrition insecurity, the technologists, entrepreneurs, policy makers and those interested in agriculture were invited to participate and contribute to fruitful dialogue in the ICV forum from 11-14 November, 2002 at Bangalore, India.
The ICV-2002 was inaugurated on 11th
November, 2002 by Mr. S. M. Krishna, Honourable Chief Minister of the
State of Karnataka, India and was presided over by Mr. Som Pal, Member,
Planning Commission (Agriculture),Government of India and Mr. M. Shivanna,
Karnataka State Minister of Horticulture was the Guest of
Honour.
The
occasion was graced by Mr. May Sam Oeun, Secretary of Agriculture,
Government of Cambodia; Dr. Daniel Gustafson, FAO Represenatative to India
and Bhutan; Dr. Samson C. S. Tsou, Director General of Asian Vegetable
Research & Development Center,
Taiwan and others. Many dignitaries of national and international repute also
graced the function. The philosophy of the Conference was to address
vegetable as a supplement to food and nutritional security of the growing
world population and establish technical cooperation among developing
countries (TCDC) an evolving concept. The conference had 18 sponsors and 31
collaborators from world over.
The Dr. Prem Nath Agricultural Science Foundation (PNASF) jointly with the Indian Society of Vegetable Science (ISVS) and the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), and in collaboration with other interested national and international institutions took initiative to organize this Conference for the first time. The Conference brought together, multidisciplinary scientists, policy makers and progressive farmers to handle the complex problems of poverty, food and nutrition security and sustainability.
The ICV-Souvenir brought about on this occasion
contained selected guest papers from the senior international experts on the
main theme of the Conference entitled "Vegetables for Sustainable Food and
Nutritional Security in the New Millennium", which set the stage for brain
storming sessions in the thirteen theme areas. The papers highlighted the
theme, philosophy, present scenario and steps undertaken on global, regional
and national level on food and nutritional security on up-liftment of human
kind world-wide.
This conference provided an excellent forum allowing brainstorming sessions for 3 full days covering wide-spectrum issues on food and nutritional security plaguing the developing world. The wide range issues covered need of agricultural technological development leading to high quality and productivity; socio-economic conditions focusing more on accessibility to food; marketing and trade issues emanating from subsistence farmers as well as large farmers leading to production for national food and nutrition security and to export market and the issues facing farmers in the new WTO regime. The ICV extended its discussion on finding ways and means to establish an international network to develop and sustain technical cooperation among participating countries in the whole area of vegetable sector. The discussion in these sessions were introduced and discussed by the eminent national and international lead speakers in the area of expertise followed by selected contributory papers.
A total of 60 lead papers from national and international authors were presented. A total of 621 papers accepted for presentation in the Conference. The total programme was integrated vertically, horizontally and radially and managed efficiently to derive full benefits. To achieve this objective, it was further suggested that a well-integrated network of competent institutions and other bodies should be created in the name of VEGINET.
During the Conference, the Late Dr. G. S. Randhawa
Memorial Lecture on the "Role of AVRDC in the context of Recent Challenges
to the vegetable sector in
Asia"
was delivered by Dr. Samson C. S. Tsou, Director General, Asian Vegetable
Research and Development Centre (AVRDC), Taiwan. It was presided over by Dr.
Prem Nath, Chairman, P. N. Agricultural Science Foundation and the ICV
memorial plaque was presented to the speaker by Mrs. G. S. Randhawa. The
Late Acharya Dharmsheela Nath Memorial Lecture on "Appropriate Technology
for Sustainable Food Security" was delivered by Dr. Dyno Keating, Deputy
Director General, on behalf of Dr. William D. Dar, Director General,
International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad. It
was presided over by Prof. V. L. Chopra, President, Indian Academy of
Agricultural Sciences and the ICV Memorial plaque was presented to the
speaker by Ms. Shyamla Nath, daughter of Late Acharya Dharmsheela Nath.
During this occasion, the FAO extended support by offering HORTIVAR Training Programme under the leadership of Dr. Wilfried Baudoin of FAO headquarters in Rome. HORTIVAR is FAO’s database which facilitates the access and dissemination of information on horticultural cultivar performance according to eco-zones and crop management practices. 190 participants benefited from the training programme.
The ICV-Organizing Council was encouraged greatly by the overwhelming national and highly encouraging international response of the professionals with a total of 661 participants registered from 37 countries.
The ICV had received outstanding support from the Dr.
Prem Nath Agricultural Science Foundation (PNASF), Indian Institute of
Horticultural Research (IIHR) and Indian Society of Vegetable Science (ISVS)
in organizing this Conference. The Food and Agriculture Organization has
supported the ICV in terms of its organization, providing guest and lead
papers, training programme and case studies and in sponsoring selected lead
speakers and participants from world over.
The ICV-2002 Salient Recommendations on 13 Theme Areas provide deep insight into the core issues of policy, technology and developmental sub-sectors of vegetable industry particularly facing the developing world and to be considered at the national, regional and global levels.
The major output of this conference as envisaged is;
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participation of countries from Africa, USA, Canada, Europe, near East and Asia;
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coverage of the complete Vegetable Sector;
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development of salient recommendations and resolution; and
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establishment of the International Vegetable Science Network (VEGINET).
The ICV-2002, Bangalore Resolution in forming VEGINET marked the first milestone in the Vegetable World with its global perspective.
BANGALORE RESOLUTION ON VEGETABLES SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK (VEGINET)
The International Conference on Vegetables - 2002 held at Bangalore with main focus on "Vegetables for Sustainable Food and Nutritional Security" represented by 661 delegates from 37 countries comprising of scientists, technocrats, developmental personnel, industrialists, representatives from corporate houses, diplomats, policy makers and farmers deliberated on various issues pertaining to the entire gamut of vegetable production and utilization. Recommendations emerging out of thirteen theme areas were discussed and debated. The collective ideas, intellect and wisdom culminated in 'The Bangalore Resolution'.
The Resolution
To further the cause of addressing issues relating to food
and nutritional security by way of promoting vegetables as one of the most
important dietary components, in the wake of fighting global hunger and
malnutrition, the participating nations representatives unanimously
recognized the need and importance of a vegetable network and ICV - 2002
resolves to support the establishment of a Vegetable Network.
The ICV-2002 Resolves formation of a Vegetable Science International Network, 'VEGINET' to create awareness, understanding and cooperation amongst the institutions of various developed and developing nations to come together and promote the major theme of the Conference "Vegetables for Sustainable Food and Nutritional Security in the New Millennium". The ICV-2002 further resolves to constitute a Nomination Committee representing different nations with the task of nominating The Executive Council Members of the 'VEGINET' and the PNASF, Bangalore, India will host the Secretariat and take action on organizing the next Conference in 2005. The Nomination Committee consisted of the following member;
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Dr. Prem Nath -
Convener
Dr G. Anais - Member
(Carribean)
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The ICV-2002 Resolves to urge International Organizations
like FAO to extend their support in such task keeping in view the strong
pro-active role being played by them in Technical Cooperation among
Developing Countries (TCDC). It was recommended that FAO supports this
initiative in an advisory and catalytic capacity.
The ICV-2002 recognized the special support expressed by
the participating national / international institutions from FAO,
Nigeria,
Thailand, India & others.
The ICV-2002 Resolves to appeal nations like USA, Switzerland, Germany and Japan for their cooperation and support in creation of the Vegetable Network i.e., 'VEGINET' and extend help in the form of possible contribution and expertise.
Salient Recommendations (ICV-2002 )
Vegetables for Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security in the New Millennium
The ICV-2002 addressed 13 theme areas covering various aspects pertaining to the entire gamut of vegetable research and development. The aspects included vegetable improvement in production, protection, under utilized vegetables, post harvest management, developmental policies and programmes, marketing and trade including WTO policies and programmes and finally technical cooperation among developing countries, to harness the genetic and eco-diversity of the vegetable crops for sustainable nutritional security of the growing population especially in developing countries. Each theme area, chaired by a nodal person, had papers presented by eminent scientists of national and international repute. In all there were 60 lead papers, 128 oral and 433 poster presentations during the deliberations.
The conference provided an opportunity to bring together, multi-disciplinary scientific teams, policy makers, industry and progressive farmers to handle the problems of poverty, food and nutrition security and sustainability. The salient recommendations of the ICV-2002 are as follows;
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Value Added Germplasm
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Genetic Improvement In Vegetable Crops
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Bio-Technological Applications In Vegetable Crops
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Production Technology In Vegetable Crops
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Protection Technology In Vegetable Crops
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Post Harvest Management In Vegetable Crops
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Organic Vegetable Production
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Hybrid Seed Production
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Vegetable And Nutrition
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Under-Utilized Vegetables
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Marketing And Trade
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Development Policies And Programmes
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Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries (TCDC)
The details of the recommendation of each Theme Area are available in CD ROM at the PNASF.
