An off campus training programme on “ICAR-IIHR Technologies” was conducted to the officers and farmers of Puducherry State at Botanical Garden, Puducherry State from January 5-6 th, 2022 sponsored by Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under State Horticulture Mission, Government of Puducherry. The objective of this training programme was to create awareness about ICAR-IIHR Horticultural technologies including vegetable seed production and also to facilitate department officials and farmers of Puducherry state through capacity building on various ICAR-IIHR technologies. On 05.01.2022, training programme was organised for officials of department of agriculture and horticulture. Almost 35 participants of Puducherry State were actively participated. The program was started with Thamizh Thai Vaazhthu followed by ICAR song. Sh. C.Sivaraman, Additional Director of Agriculture welcomed the participants and scientists and explained about of need and importance of the training. This programme was inaugurated by Dr.B.Ramakichenin @Balagandhi, Director of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare cum mission Director, State Horticulture Mission ,Govt of Puducherry. During his inaugural address, he requested ICAR-IIHR to provide suitable training to the officials of agriculture/horticulture department in latest horticultural technologies developed by ICAR-IIHR, Bengalore particularly commercial seed production techniques in various vegetable crops. Later presentation on ICAR-IIHR released improved varieties/hybrids and other technologies in various vegetable crops was delivered by Dr.V.Sankar, Principal Scientist (Hort) followed by ICAR-IIHR fruit crop technologies and other commercial horticultural technologies explained by Dr. R. Senthil Kumar, Principal Scientist. At the end, scientists emphasized the Horticulture Department Officials of Puducherry to take up demonstration of ICAR-IIHR released varieties and hybrids of fruits, vegetables and flowers and also urged to make use of IIHR seed portal for purchase of seeds and planting materials required for respective region.
On 06.01.2022,training programme was organized for farmers of Puducherry state on ICAR-IIHR technologies including vegetable seed production. This training programme was inaugurated by Shri.C.Djeacoumar, Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Puducherry. During his inaugural address, he urged Puducherry farmers for diversification of horticultural crops particularly various vegetable crops suitable to grow under coastal region of Puducherry. Moreover he emphasised the importance of quality seed production in vegetables for sustainable production and also effective use of IIHR vegetable seeds for commercial production in various regions of Puducherry State. Later presentation on ICAR-IIHR released improved varieties/hybrids/technologies and seed production in selected vegetable crops was delivered by Dr.V.Sankar, Principal Scientist (Hort) followed by ICAR-IIHR fruit crop technologies explained by Dr. R. Senthil Kumar, Principal Scientist. There was a feedback session and there was an interaction meeting with farmers and scientists at the end of lectures where in doubts raised by the farmers were cleared. The participants expressed their satisfaction about conduct of the training and opined that the programme was very much useful in updating their knowledge pertaining to advances in various vegetable and fruit crops technologies developed by ICAR-IIHR which will be useful for their own state. At the end of the programme, Honourable Agriculture Minister, Govt of Puducherry distributed IIHR vegetable seed kits to the all the farmers including special vegetable seed kits to selected beneficiaries for commercial seed production. The program was ended with vote of thanks proposed by Mr.N.K.Shanmugavelu, Deputy Director of Horticulture, Director of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare cum mission Director, State Horticulture Mission, Govt of Puducherry. This programme was attended by 50 farmers.Both the training programme was organized and coordinated by Dr.V.Sankar, and Dr. R. Senthil Kumar, Principal Scientist of Division of Social Sciences and Training, ICAR-IIHR, Bangalore.