‘National Horticulture Fair 2023’ under the theme ‘Innovative Horticulture for self-reliance’ being held from 22nd to 25th February 2023 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru was inaugurated on 22.02.2023. The event was inaugurated by Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, the hon’ble Union minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Dr. A.K.Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), Shri. R. Ravindra, General Manager, APEDA, Dr. Gulati, Director, ICAR-NIVEDI, Dr. S.K. Singh, Director ICAR-IIHR, Dr. C. Aswath, Vice President, SPH and Dr. R.Venkattakumar, Organizing Secretary, NHF 2023 graced the occasion. During his inaugural address, Shri Tomar emphasized on key role of horticulture in doubling the farmer’s income along with meeting the much-needed nutritional security. Further he mentioned that the productivity of horticulture crops has increased by about 38.5% in the past 15 years and this consistent and rapid increase in production and availability of horticultural crops shall translate into bridging the gap between the nutritional security of the country vis-à-vis global average. He also said that out of the Rs.1.25 lakh crore total budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, an outlay of Rs 2,200 crore has been made for the development of Horticulture sector, especially for ‘Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme’ to boost the availability of disease-free, quality planting material for high-value horticultural crops. Dr. A.K.Singh mentioned about the recent initiatives of the institute such as seed portal, Centre of Excellence for protected cultivation, vertical farming, Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIF), Food Safety Referral Laboratory and BESST-HORT. He appreciated the Institute for developing Leaf curl virus resistant chilly hybrids, Carotene rich marigold variety Arka Subha, Gerbera varieties (Arka Ashwa, Arka Nesara, Arka White and Arka Pink) and Rose (Arka Ivory, Arka Pride and Arka Swadesh) for import substitution, floral waste utilization technology, Value added (millet-based) mushroom cookies, Honey bees assisted pollination in protected cultivation and cost effective traps for Tuta absoluta in tomato. During the event, Mr. Sushant Kumar Patra, Shri. Pinku Debnath, Mr. G. Swamy, Mr. Sangramkesari Pradhan, Ms. Vidya, Mr. Siddharthan and Mr. Polepalli Sudhakar were presented with Best Farmer Award. The guests of honor released the publications viz., ‘Souvenir-National Horticulture Fair 2023’ and ‘Production Technologies of Vegetable Crops- A Handbook’. MoU for mass production of Arka Vegetable special with Arekal Organics Pvt Ltd. and Arka Microbial consortium with Nutrienty Pvt. Ltd. were also signed.
