One day Field Day cum Farmer-Scientist Interaction Meet was organized at ICAR-IIHR-Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES), Chettalli, Kodagu District, Karnataka, on 19th February, 2021 to showcase various horticultural crop varieties and technologies. The programme was inaugurated with opening of Field Demonstration plot, Arka Nutri-Garden and Fruits and Vegetables Exhibition by Dr. M.R. Dinesh, Director, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru; the Chief Guest Shri Bose Mandana, Former Vice President, Coffee Board and Planter, Suntikoppa; the Guest of Honours Prof. P.G. Chengappa, Former Vice Chancellor, UAS, Bengaluru and Dr. Prasanna Kumar, Principal Scientist (Retired), ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru.
Dr. Saju George, Head, KVK, Gonikoppal and CHES, Chettalli welcomed the guests and the gathering. Dr. Reju M. Kurian, Head, Division of Fruit Crops, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru delivered the Introductory remarks on Field Day and IIHR Fruit varieties suitable for Coorg region. The Director, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru felicitated the Chief Guest and the Guests of Honour.
The Guest of Honour Prof. P.G.Chengappa in his speech commended the contribution of ICAR-IIHR and CHES, Chettalli in uplifting the farming community through its technologies and varieties. Dr. Prasanna Kumar, Principal Scientist (Rtd.) who started his career at CHES, Chettalli recalled his nostalgic memories at this place and appreciated the best efforts taken by the IIHR in reaching the farming community with its technological advancement. The Chief Guest, Shri Bose Mandanna in his address, urged the planters of Coorg and other farmers the importance of diversification for higher income and sustainable growth. He also touched upon the importance of having a small nutritional garden in every household to ensure consumption of healthy vegetables and fruits to lead a healthy life. In his presidential address Dr. M.R. Dinesh, Director (ICAR-IIHR) cited the efforts of IIHR to reach the farmers through National Horticultural Fairs, Field days, Frontline demonstrations, entrepreneurship and commercialization of technology, etc. Further, he mentioned the various technologies available at IIHR for encouraging Start up and Stand up India in the field of Horticulture. Subsequently, he added that most of the varieties released by IIHR are of multiple disease resistant and high yielding, thus can reduce the cost of cultivation, and thereby improve the farm income.
In continuation Dr. K. Madhavi Reddy, Head, Division of Vegetable Crops, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru gave a talk on the importance of IIHR vegetable varieties and Arka Nutri Garden in Coorg region. This was followed by Dr. T.S. Aghora, Principal Scientist and Nodal Officer (PME Cell), ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, and he explained about few important legume vegetables for Coorg region for augmenting the farmers’ income. Subsequently, Dr. C.K. Narayana, Head, Division of PHT&AE, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, enlightened the importance of processing and value addition in Horticulture crops for year-round supply of Horticultural produce.
In this Programme, a technical extension folder on ‘Technologies Developed at CHES (ICAR-IIHR), Chettalli’ was released by the guests. Further two farmers namely Shri Shankara Murthy, Kuppalli, Thirthahalli Taluk,Shivamogga District and Shri Venkatesha, Bylukuppe, Periyapatna Taluk, Mysore District were conferred with the Best Farmer Award for having successfully adopted Arka Bharath technology and popularizin it in their areas.
At the end, Dr. M. Senthilkumar, Scientist (Vegetable Crops), CHES, Chettalli delivered the formal vote of thanks. In this programme, nearly 500 farmers from Kodagu, Mysore, and Hassan Districts participated.
The major highlights of the programme were:
- Live demonstration of performance of around 22 fruit crops, 45 promising IIHR varieties/hybrids of 25 vegetable crops and seven gladiolus and two China aster varieties of flower crops.
- Showcasing of a practical model Arka Nutri Garden with 25 different IIHR vegetable varieties for meeting household and Homestay requirements of the Coorg region
- Fruits and Vegetables Exhibition to display IIHR varieties/hybrids
- Farmer-Scientist interactive session was arranged for fruitful interaction on various aspects of horticulture farming; and
Sales of IIHR vegetable seeds, planting materials, etc.
