The National Horticultural Fair 2024

Blog Credit: Trupti Thakur

Image Courtesy: Google

The National Horticultural Fair 2024

 

ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, Karnataka is organizing a mega event “National Horticulture Fair – 2024” from March 5 – 7, 2024 in collaboration with the Society for Promotion of Horticulture (SPH); BESST- HORT, a Technology Business Incubator ICAR-IIHR; ICAR-ATARI Bengaluru and leading development departments serving for the cause and promotion of horticulture and allied sectors.

The Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR) is hosting a three-day National Horticulture Fair at its Hessarghatta premises on the outskirts of Bengaluru from March 5 to 7, 2024. The theme of the fair, “Nextgen technology-led horticulture for sustainable development,” highlights the integration of cutting-edge technologies in horticultural practices to promote sustainability and boost farmers’ income.

The National Horticulture Fair 2024 is being organized by ICAR-IIHR in collaboration with the Society for Promotion of Horticulture (SPH), BESST-HORT (a Technology Business Incubator ICAR-IIHR), ICAR-ATARI Bengaluru, and leading development departments serving for the cause and promotion of horticulture and allied sectors.

Showcasing Innovative Technologies

The fair will showcase the country’s most advanced and recent technologies in the horticulture sector, including:

1. Smart irrigation systems
2. Controlled environment management
3. Vertical farming
4. Resource optimization for enhanced crop yield
5. Environment-friendly practices for sustainable horticulture
6. Digital horticulture

These technologies aim to minimize ecological footprints and foster efficient and environmentally friendly horticultural practices for sustainable development.

IIHR’s Contributions to the Horticulture Sector

Established in 1967, ICAR-IIHR has been conducting basic, applied, and strategic research on horticultural crops. Currently, the institute is working on 58 horticultural crops, including 13 fruits, 30 vegetables, 10 flowers, and 5 medicinal crops. To date, IIHR has released 354 varieties and 156 technologies, commercializing 176 technologies to 746 clients with 1,250 licenses. The institute has organized more than 850 training sessions and 7 National Horticulture Fairs, contributing to the nation’s horticulture sector at the tune of more than Rs. 30,051 crores annually.

Hands-on Training and Workshops

The fair will feature hands-on training and workshops covering various aspects of horticulture, providing attendees with practical knowledge and skills to implement the latest technologies in their respective fields.

Honoring Farmers, Entrepreneurs, and Organizations

During the event, 25 farmers, including 5 from North Eastern States, 4 entrepreneurs, 5 Food Processing Organizations, and 5 Krishi Vigyan Kendra staff members, will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the horticulture sector.

Boosting Farmers’ Income

The ultimate goal of the National Horticulture Fair 2024 is to boost farmers’ income and ensure the production of high-quality horticultural goods. By adopting the latest technologies and sustainable practices showcased at the fair, farmers can enhance their crop yields, reduce input costs, and improve the overall quality of their produce, leading to better market opportunities and increased profitability.

 

People Responses:

Around 18,000-20,000 people visited the National Horticulture Fair (NHF) 2024, which was inaugurated on Tuesday, March 5, at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) — Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR).

More than 250 stalls showcasing various innovations and technologies in the horticulture sector have been set up at the three-day fair while 238 live demos of IIHR technologies are also being presented. Farmers from 20 states, 50 ICAR institutes and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK), and many other government organisations, NGOs, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) and start-ups are participating in the fair.

Along with varieties of seeds, fertilisers, and other agricultural equipment, horticultural products like millet breakfast bars, jackfruit cookies, tender coconut milkshakes were also exhibited at the stalls.

Visitors found the fair to be quite informative and diverse. Vinod Sundaram, a regular at agricultural fairs and also an organic farmer said, “For the first time, I am seeing stalls from so many different States — from Sikkim to Andaman and Nicobar. There is quite a lot of information about the species in different regions and how we can grow them here.”

Prabhakar Bhat, who grows arecanut and other crops in Mangaluru, was a first-timer at NHF. “I am here to gather information as this is a good place to understand various advanced technologies and innovations so that we can use it for our crops,” he said.

As many as 12 progressive farmers, including five from the Northeastern hill region, four entrepreneurs, five FPOs, and five KVK officials were felicitated for their contributions to the horticulture sector during the inaugural ceremony.

 

 

Blog By: Trupti Thakur