ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) organized an off-campus training programme on "Horticultural Production Technologies Released by ICAR-IIHR" for the officials of Department of Horticulture, Government of Telangana. This programme was sponsored by Department of Horticulture, Government of Telangana at Hyderabad. Fifty five officers of the cadre of Deputy Director of Horticulture (DDH), Assistant Director of Horticulture (ADH), Horticultural officer (HO) and Assistant Horticultural Officer (AHO) (from 13 districts of Telangana State) participated in the training programme at Centre of Excellence (Fruits), Mulugu, Telangana. This programme was started with ICAR Song followed by IIHR Jingle. Mrs P. V. Bhagyalakshmi, Deputy Director of Horticulture, extended welcome to officials and explained about objective of the training programme. This programme was inaugurated by Sri L. Venkatram Reddy, Director (Horticulture), Government of Telangana, Hyderabad. During his inaugural address, he insisted the importance of ICAR–IIHR horticultural technologies for doubling the farmers' income of Telangana and requested all the horticultural officers of Telangana to keep in touch with ICAR-IIHR for transfer of latest horticultural technologies to the farmers of Telangana. Dr. R. Venkattakumar, Principal Scientist and In-charge Head, Division of Social Science and Training, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru explained about Importance of ICAR-IIHR technologies and laid emphasis on developing entrepreneurs through various ICAR-IIHR technologies. Further he presented a lecture on role of FPOs for promoting Horticultural technologies. Dr. V. Sankar, Principal Scientist, Division of Social Sciences and Training ICAR-IIHR, delivered lecture on "Varieties and hybrids of vegetable crops and latest vegetable production technologies of ICAR-IIHR” suitable for Telangana. Dr. R. Senthil Kumar, Principal Scientist, Division of Social Sciences and Training delivered a lecture on "Fruit crop technologies of ICAR-IIHR". Further he explained about importance of canopy management in fruit crops and demonstrated pruning and training in Mango, Guava, Sapota, Pomegranate and Custard apple orchards. The horticultural officials expressed their satisfaction on the off-campus training and opined that they have learnt many new IIHR varieties/hybrids of fruits, vegetables, flowers and other horticultural technologies, which will be very useful and suitable to implement in their state. This programme was ended with vote of thanks proposed by Mrs. Suvarna, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Government of Telangana, Mulugu.
