Conservation Research Center conducts Horticultural Crops Workshop
The Center for Conservation Research conducted a practical training workshop on horticultural crops, June 16 on the Lorman campus.
Topics covered during the workshop included organic turmeric production, clonal propagation of muscadine grapevines, how to increase vitamin C, and anthocyanins in blueberries using organic farming systems, and no-till vegetable production.
“Alcorn is the first University succeeded in increasing the vitamin C and anthocyanin contents in blueberries by organic farming systems and this workshop helped to transfer this advanced organic farming technology to the farmers and conservationists,” said Dr. Girish K. S. Panicker, center director.
Students, agriculture faculty, scientists, farmers, and conservationists from the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service attended. Participants were given free samples of blueberries, pecans, and turmeric rhizomes.
Turmeric is reportedly effective in the treatment of number of conditions, including arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, digestive problems, some cancers, and obesity. It also protects the liver, according to Panicker who has done research with turmeric.
Panicker, Dr. Ananda Nanjundaswamy and Dr. Leonard Kibet, assistant professors, Department of Agriculture, addressed the participants. Staff members Willie Mims, farm manager, Darrell Jackson and Louis Lacata, both field technicians, and Monique Brown, secretary, assisted.
For more details on horticultural crops, contact Panicker at 601-877-6598 or [email protected].
