An Exposure visit cum one day training programme about future fruits (Avocado, Kamalam was arranged at ICAR-IIHR CHES, Hirehalli and IIHR-KVK Hirehallil for MANAGE sponsored trainees under “Certified farm advisors on fruit crop technologies training” being organized by ICAR-IIHR on 20th December, 2021.The objective of the programme was to transform extension professionals as Certified Farm Advisors through training on underutilized/exotic/future fruit crop varieties and related production technologies. A total of 27 officials/entrepreneurs representing 8 different states (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Haryana and Bihar) are participating in this programme. Dr.G.Karunakaran, Principal Scientist In charge of CHES Farm, Hirehalli welcomed all the participants and explained about CHES activities. Later on, he delivered lectures on commercial propagation techniques of important fruit crops, advances in varieties and crop production techniques of Jack, Avocado, Kamalam and other underutilized fruit crops and post-harvest management of jack, avocado and Kamalam fruits. End of his lecture, orchard visit as well as nursery and mini exhibition of under-utilized fruits was also arranged to the all the participants to get acquaint with underutilized fruit crops. During orchard visit, he explained about pruning and training in Kamalam and Avocado, soil and nutrient management of papaya, jack, avocado, citrus and Kamalam. After CHES Farm visit, all the participants were taken to KVK-Hirehalli, Tumkuru district. During KVK Visit K. N. Jagadish, SMS (Agrl Extn.) explained about KVK – Hirehalli activities. Mr.P.R. Ramesh, SMS (Soil Science) and J. M. Prasanth, SMS (Hort) opined about details of manufacturing unit of Arka micro nutrient specials and its impact and demonstration of various ICAR-IIHR released horticultural technologies. The participants expressed their satisfaction on exposure visit to these places and learned many location-specific practical problems in various under unutilized fruits crops technologies and solutions suggested by the various experts. This visit and one day training programme was coordinated by Dr.V.Sankar, Principal Scientist and Dr.R.Senthil Kumar Division of Social Science and Training and Dr.G.Karunakaran, Principal Scientist and In-charge of CHES Farm, Division of Fruit Crops ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru.
