ICAR-IIHR-Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Chettalli organized Field Day cum Diversity Fair on Avocado on 15th June, 2024 at CHES, Chettalli. The main aim of the programme was to showcase the genetic diversity in avocado and address the problems in cultivation of avocado. The programme was started with the inauguration of exhibition by Dr. S. K. Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), ICAR, New Delhi and other guests. Exhibition included the display of more than 100 diverse avocado genotypes and 30 different avocado recipes. Exhibition also includes nutrient deficiency, pests and diseases specimens. Dr. Rajendiran S., Senior Scientist and Head (i/c) welcomed all the gathering during inauguration programme and briefed the importance of programme. The Guest of Honour Shri. K.N. Verma, Director, MIDH, GoI, briefed the role of MIDH in promotion of high value horticulture crops. Another Guest of Honours, Shri Bose Mandanna, Former Vice Chairman, Coffee Board and Planter, Suntikoppa, stressed the problems of growers and requested the Director to strengthen the manpower of the station and requested the Director, MIDH to give the projects to promote exotic fruit crops. The Chief Guest Dr. S.K. Singh, DDG (HS), ICAR, New Delhi addressed the growers and suggested to form the clusters or FPOs for better marketing and doubling the income. The “Society for Promotion of High Value Exotic Horticulture Crops” was inaugurated during the programme. The extension leaflet on “Avocado Cultivation: The Key Points” was released. Dr. Prakash Patil, Project Coordinator, ICAR-AICRP on Fruits presided over the programme and assured the gathering about the inclusion of high value exotic fruits in AICRP system.. The technical session was organized and Dr. Muralidhara B.M., presented the Avocado Cultivation in India: Prospects and Issues. Dr. Rani A.T., Scientist (Agri. Entomology) created awareness on Pests and Diseases Management in Avocado. The Farmers-Scientists Interaction Session was arranged and the Chair Dr. Sankaran, M., Head, Division of Fruit Crops and the Co-Chair Dr. Karnuakaran G., PS, Division of Fruit Crops, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, and all the Scientists of CHES and KVK participated in the interaction. The field visits were arranged for farmers to showcase results of avocado varieties Arka Supreme and Arka Coorg Ravi. Dr. Nayan Deepak G., Scientist (Fruit Science) explained about the special traits of avocado varieties to the farmers during the field visit. More than 300 farmers from Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have participated in the programme.
