The ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) Bengaluru organized off- campus training program on “Improved vegetable production technologies, Kitchen garden and Canopy management in fruit crops” followed by inputs distribution to the selected tribal beneficiaries of Pachamalai Hills of Trichy district of Tamil Nadu consisting of Vannadu and Kombai panchayats. This program was organized under Ainthinai Mission sposored by Directorate of Tribal Welfare, Govt Of Tamil Nadu on 7th November, 2024. Dr. D. Balu, President, Vivekanandha trust gave introductory remarks. Dr. R. Senthil Kumar, Principal Scientist and PI of the project narrated the objectives and importance of the training and delivered lectures about soil health and its management for successful cultivation of vegetables and importance of pruning and training of various fruit crops. Dr V. Sankar, Principal Scientist and CO-PI and Coordinator of the programme explained about significance of ICAR-IIHR vegetable technologies for increasing the income of the tribal farmers and he delivered lectures in different aspects of vegetable cultivation including new varieties/hybrids. Mrs. D. Abirami, Assistant Director of Horticulture from Thuraiyur block of Trichy district of Tamil Nadu explained about need for the training for tribal women to fulfil nutritional security and prosperity and enumerated the departmental schemes for tribal farmers to increase their farm income. Mr Senthilkumaran, superintendent, and Mr P. Lakshmanan, Technical Assistant Tribal welfare, Thuraiyur, Trichy district of Tamil Nadu has also participated in this occasion. At the end, vegetable seed pockets distributed to the selected tribal beneficiaries of Pachamalai hills. The programme was attended by 136 tribal farmers of Trichy (Pachamalai Hills) district of Tamil Nadu. This program was coordinated by Dr.V. Sankar, Dr. R. Senthil Kumar and Mr K Suryamurthi from Division of Social Science and Training, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru.
