Sushri Shobha Karandlaje inaugurates Krishi Sammelan organised by ICAR-CPCRI, RC
15 March 2024, New Delhi: ICAR- Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kerala, Research Centre, Kidu, Karnataka organised a one-day Farmer’s Meet (Krishi Sammelan) today.
Sushri. Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The Minister highlighted various measures taken by the central government to protect the interest of coconut and areca nut farmers of the region to manage some of the sudden outbreaks of pests and diseases and prevailing price fluctuation and to prevent illegal import of commodities from neighboring countries. She commissioned a 20 lakh liter water storage tank to improve irrigation infrastructure and released improved coconut varieties, Kalpa Suvarna, and cocoa varieties, VTLCH1, and VTLCH2, developed by the Institute. A handbook on improved coconut varieties was released and certificates were distributed to trainees.
Dr. S. K. Singh, Deputy Director General (Hort. Sci.), ICAR, urged the farmers to adopt improved technologies in agriculture to reduce the cost of production and tide over the climate crisis.
Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner, Govt. of India, stressed the use of Coconut Development Board schemes to rejuvenate old gardens with improved high-yielding varieties to check declining crop productivity. He further stated that the vegan population in Europe/America is particularly looking for coconut products and urged the farmers to think of eco-friendly produce, use minimum water, and adopt multi-cropping.
Sushri. Bhagirathi Murulya, MLA (Sullia), urged the farmers to participate in such programmes to learn about new technologies/developmental schemes and reap the benefits.
Dr. K.B. Hebbar, Director, ICAR-CPCRI, Dr. Diwakar, Y., SIC, ICAR-CPCRI, Research Centre, Kidu, Dr. Niral, Head, Crop Improvement, ICAR-CPCRI Kasaragod Dr. Homy Cheryian, Director, Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development, Dr. Hanumanthe Gowda, CCDO CDB, Shri Kishore Kodgi President CAMPCO, and other officials from the Institute were present during the progarmme.
Two technologies of the institute were licensed and MOUs were exchanged with the CEO of YGP Coconut Farmers Producers Company Ltd. Davanagere (Hybridization Technology) and South Canara Coconut Farmers Company Ltd. (Kalpa Organic Gold).
Technical sessions on the latest technologies on plant and soil health management, value addition, farmers support initiatives and marketing, was organised and Demonstrations on drone-enabled spraying technology; hybridization techniques in coconut; and coconut tree climbing devices were also conducted for the benefit of the farmers.
About 2000 farmers from coconut and areca nut growing districts attended the mela along with officials from state Govt., development agencies, FPOs, KVKs, and other agencies.
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