Mysuru: To commemorate ‘Horticulture Day,’ the birthday of Dr. M. H. Marigowda, former Director of Horticulture, a one-day “Capacity Building Programme-cum-Exhibition on Quality Planting Material and Crop Production in Turmeric” was organised by the University of Horticultural Sciences (UHS), Bagalkot, in association with Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development, Calicut, at Horticulture Extension Education Unit, College of Horticulture (COH) in Mysuru recently.

Dr. D.R. Patil, Associate Director of Research and Extension, highlighted the objectives of the training programme.

Dr. Babulal Meena, Assistant Director, Directorate of Arecanut & Spices Development, who inaugurated, highlighted various farmer-centric programmes of the Directorate. Vice-Chancellor of UHS Dr. D. L. Maheswar appreciated the Horticulture Experiential Learning students for their efforts in developing the turmeric seedlings through portray method, distributing them to the farmers and bringing down the cost of production drastically.

Dr. V. Nache Gowda, Director of Research, stressed the need to select need-based research  programme to address farmers’ problems. Dr. D. Manjunath, Deputy Director of Horticulture, Mysuru, highlighted the Department’s pro-farmer schemes. Dr. G. Janardhan, Dean, COH, Mysuru, presided.

Dr. Anand, SADH, Chamarajanagar and Madappa, a progressive farmer, released three technical folders on turmeric crop. More than 150 farmers from Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Hassan and Chitradurga participated in the training programme.

The technical sessions were handled by Dr. H.M. Pallavi, B.S. Harish, Extension Leader, Mysuru and progressive farmer Prasad. G.K. Sudarshan, Dr. G.P. Muthuraju and Dr. Tanveer Ahmed also  deliberated.