ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru organizes National Horticulture Fair - 2021

8th February, 2021, Bengaluru

The ICAR-Indian Institutes of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka has organized the five-day “National Horticulture Fair 2021” on the theme “Start-Up & Stand-Up India” from 8th to 12th February, 2021.

In his inaugural address, the Chief Guest, Shri Shri Ravishankar stressed that everyone has to go back to the natural farming, which is not only environmentally safe but also provides nutritional security and health benefits. He urged the farmers to get connected in greater numbers with such types of fairs. He said that all the horticulture-based ICAR Institutes and Department Agencies should join together to make the country nutritionally secured. The Chief Guest also released the “Jacolate”, jackfruit-based chocolate product that was licensed to a women entrepreneur during the occasion.

The Guest of Honor, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) urged to make the “Krishi Labhdayak and Nature Friendly”. Dr. Mohapatra emphasised on creating awareness for nutrition security among the consumers for increasing the use of fruits and vegetables. The Director General also released a Mobile App “Árka Vyapar” developed in collaboration with the Society for Promotion of Horticulture to connect the buyers and sellers of horticulture produce and products.

The Guest of Honor, Dr. Anand Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Science), ICAR stressed on the importance of the horticulture and its growing contribution to the Indian economy even during the COVID-19 Pandemic situation.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. M.R. Dinesh, Director, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, Karnataka outlined the theme of the event that aims at boosting the horticulture as an enterprise and promoting the “Atmanirbhar Krishi” through entrepreneurship development.

Dr. Raghavendra Bhatta, Director, ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bengaluru, Karnataka and Dr. V. Venkatasubramanian, Director, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka were also present during the inaugural function.

The senior officials of ICAR, Directors of ICAR Institutes and ATARIs, Vice-Chancellors of State Horticultural Universities, Directors of Horticultural Departments, Heads of Krishi Vigyan Kendras and representatives from Private Industries, farmers and students also virtually participated in the event.

(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka)