Central Horticultural Experiment Station (ICAR-IIHR), Chettalli organized a Field day on Nutrition Garden for the farmers of Kodagu district on 17th February, 2022. The field day was meant mainly to demonstrate model nutrition garden with different vegetable crops. The live performance of 30 vegetable varieties released from IIHR was demonstrated. An exhibition of fruits and vegetables was also arranged during the occasion. Dr. Saju George, Principal Scientist and Head, KVK Gonikoppal and CHES, Chettalli (Chairman, Organizing Committee) welcomed all the guests and participants. The Chief Guest, Shri Bose Mandanna, Former Vice President Coffee Board and Planter, Suntikoppa graced the occasion and in his speech highlightedthe necessity of less use of chemicals for crop production. Joint Director of Agriculture, Kodagu District, Dr. Shabana M.Sheikh also addressed the gathering and she elaborated on different schemes available for farmers from the department. Dr. B.N.S Murthy, Director, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru presided over the programme and emphasized on importance of organically grown fruits and vegetables for human health. Dr. K. Madhavi Reddy, Principal Scientist & Head, Division of Vegetable Crops, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, delivered a talk on basic aspects of Nutri garden and importance of fruits and vegetables in our diet. Dr. M. Pitchaimuthu, Principal Scientist, Division of Vegetable Crops, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, gave a talk on new cucumber and teasle gourd varieties released by IIHR. Mr. Muralidhara, B.M., Scientist (Fruit Science), CHES, Chettalli, presented a topic on Importance of fruit crops in nutritional gardening. Dr. Rajendiran S., Scientist (Soil Science) CHES, Chettalli, delivered a lecture on Nutritional gardening: Concepts and practices as well as soil and nutrient management practices in nutrition gardens. Dr. N.R. Prasanna Kumar, Scientist (Agricultural Entomology), Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, gave a talk on Major pests of vegetable crops and their managementand Dr. G.M. Sandeep Kumar (Plant Pathology), Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, spoke about major diseases of vegetable crops and their management.
Then field visit and Farmer-Scientist interaction session was conducted to discuss various crop production aspects. The varieties/hybrids of different vegetable crops demonstrated in themodel Arka Nutri Garden (with total area of 400 m2) were: Tomato (var. ArkaAbhed and ArkaRakshak); Brinjal (var. Arka Harshita); Chilli (var. ArkaTejasvi and ArkaSaavi); Okra (var. Arka Nikita), Garden Pea (var. Arka Apoorva); Dolichos (var. ArkaSambhram and ArkaVistar), Radish (var. Arka Nishant); Water Melon (var. Arka Shyama); Musk Melon (var. Arka Siri); Bottle Guord (var. ArkaBahar and Arka Shreyas); Pumpkin (var. Arka Chandan and ArkaSryamuki); Ridge gourd (var. ArkaPrasan), Bitter gourd (var. ArkaHarit); French Bean (var. Arka Suvidha and ArkaSukomal); Cowpea (var. Arka Garima); Teasle gourd (ArkaBharath); Amaranthus (ArkaSamraksha); Coriander (var. ArkaIsha), Palak (var. Arka Anupama), Yard Long Bean (var. Arka Sumangala), Bush squash (Patty pan).
More than 125 farmers from the Kodagu district participated in the programme. Planting material of fruit crops and vegetables seeds were also arranged for sale during the programme for farmers. This programme was sponsored by RKVY (Project No. 1012981). The whole programme was co-ordinated by Dr. Rajendiran, S. (Convener and Organizing Secretary) and Mr. Muralidhara, B.M. (Co-Convener), CHES, Chettalli.
