KOCHI: A national symposium on plantation crops will be held in Kochi between December 5 and 8 with the theme `Plantation Crops for Sustaining Ecosystem.' The symposium is being organised under the aegis of several organisations led by the Spices Board.

Central Coffee Research Institute, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, Coconut Development Board, Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Myladumpara, Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, Indian Society for Plantation Crops, Kasaragod, Indian Society for Spices, Kozhikode, National Research Centre for Cashew, Karnataka, National Research Centre for Oil Palm, Andhra Pradesh, Rubber Research Institute of India, Kottayam, Society for Promotion of Oil Palm Research and Development, Andhra Pradesh, TRA Tocklai Experimental Station, Jorhat, Assam and UPASI Tea Research Institute, Tamil Nadu are among the organisers.

The symposium will cover topics such as genetic research, breeding innovations for yield, quality and resistance, biotechnology, eco-friendly crop management, integrated pest management, innovative methods in disease management, product diversification, transfer of technology, quality upgradation and market initiatives for crops such as coconut, areca nut, oil palm, rubber, tea, coffee, cashew, cocoa, spices and their cropping systems.

Food exhibitions

Meanwhile, the Spices Board has decided to participate in the forthcoming two-day World Food Market exhibition in London from November 29. The exhibition is being organised by the Ethnic Food Show Limited at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre.

The London exhibition incorporates various features such as cooking demonstration, gourmet pavilion and so on.

The exhibition has attracted significant business crowd when it was first held between November 23 and 24 2005. More information is available at www. wfmlondon.com.

The Spices Board has attached a lot of importance to the London exhibition, as there will be a lot of visitors who are interested in sourcing Indian spices and spice products.

Spices Board has reserved an 18 sq. m. stand for its participation at the exhibition. Exporters desirous of participating in the exhibition may contact the Deputy Director of Publicity at the Spices Board office and samples of displays should reach the Spice Board office on or before November 5.

The Spices Board also plans to take part in Biofach 2007 at Nuremberg in Germany between February 15 and 18, 2007.

The Board will also participate in the IFE India 2006 scheduled to be held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from December 7 to 9.

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