During the National Horticulture Fair, 2021, Country’s Largest Horticulture Event, Central Horticultural Experiment Station (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar organized exposure visits for the farmers of different districts of Odisha to showcase promising horticultural technologies. On first day of NHF (8th Feb.), more than 150 farmers from Cuttak, Puri, Anugul, Boudh, Nayagarh, Baleshwar, Dhenkanal, Koraput, Bolangir and Khorda districts participated in the event. Dr. G.C. Acharya, Head, CHES, Bhubaneswar welcomed the participants and gave a brief account of the National Horticulture Fair 2021. He also highlighted the importance of recently launched Arka Vyapar and Arka Seed Hub apps. The station joined the live telecast of the inaugural programme from ICAR-IIHR through Zoom app. The programme which was also telecasted in Odisha by DD Odia channel was acknowledged by many farmers. The ICAR-IIHR technologies including CHES technologies were showcased through videos and participants joined directly with IIHR Program through live streaming. A glimpse of videos was shown with elucidation of the centre’s technologies along with success stories of the farmer of the region with short clips. Various technologies including promising varieties of fruits and vegetables, crop cafeteria, fruit-based intercropping system, dragon fruit cultivation, canopy management, vegetable grafting, performance of ARKA varieties, genetic diversity in leafy vegetable, beans, mango, underutilized fruit crops, plant protection measures, organic unit and ethylene gas-induced fruit ripening were demonstrated to participants. An interaction between Scientists and farmers was also arranged to address the queries. An exhibition was also arranged to display institute's technologies and activities of Govt. of Odisha funded projects. ICAR-CTCRI, Bhubaneswar also exhibited their tuber crop based technologies. The program ended with the vote of thanks. All the COVID norms were followed during the program
