KVK, PALEM - Exposure Visit to Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Hirehalli on 6th & 7th November, 2024.

Day 1 (06.11.2024): Visit to ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru
Dr.R.Raju, Senior Scientist, Division of Social Science and Training, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru welcomed the KVK staff and explained about IIHR technologies, infrastructure, staff and high yielding varieties of fruits and vegetable crops through IIHR documentary video film. Later, the special address was given by Dr.V.K.Jayaraghavendra Rao, Principal Scientist & Head, Division of Social Sciences and Training, IIHR, Bengaluru who motivated the staff for effective utilization and dissemination of IIHR technologies and he laid emphasis on developing business plan and entrepreneurship through various ICAR-IIHR technologies. Dr.S.Dhanujaya, Principal Scientist explained about BEEST HORT activities viz., Incubation of new start-ups, entrepreneurs & enterprises for innovative technologies by providing necessary technical & business mentoring, physical infrastructure, networking support, facilities and services to test and validate their venture before successful establishment of enterprises. Visited infrastructure facilities of BEEST HORT pertaining value addition and post-harvest management practices of various horticulture and vegetable crops. There was an interaction with KVK staff and IIHR scientists about licensing of seeds and technologies of IIHR where in doubts raised by the KVK staff was cleared. Visited Mushroom spwan incubation center, Division of Crop Protection at IIHR during post lunch. Smt.R.Meenakshi, Senior Technician, Division of Crop Protection explained and showcased about various aspects of Mushroom spawn production, Mushroom cultivation, Mushroom processing and value addition, mechanization and energy management in mushroom farms, ancillary activities associated with mushroom industry and utilization of mushroom technology as a social enterprise. Later, visited Agri Business Incubation (ABI) located at IIHR premises. Dr.B.L.Manjunath, Principal Scientist (Agronomy), Division of Fruit Crops, ABI welcomed the KVK staff and explained about the commercialization and licensing of horticultural technologies through incubation rendering support and also stressed on licensed IIHR-biopesticides, machinery, seeds, planting material and their validity and registration. Also stressed on off site and on site incubation on technology commercialization through value chain incubation. KVK Staff also visited the horticulture nurseries, horticulture farm and sales counter of IIHR and purchased seeds, products and planting material. Field visit to demonstration block, polyhouses, Vegetable seed processing unit and nursery units were made. At the end day, KVK staff visited the Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) at ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru and purchased the seeds, books and publications.

Day 2 (07.11.2024): Visit to KVK, Hirehalli, Karnataka State
Dr.Loganandhan, Programme Coordinator & Head, KVK, Hirehalli welcomed the KVK staff and introduced the technical staff and facilities. Shri.K.N.Jagadish, SMS (Agril, Extn., KVK, Hirehalli coordinated the visit and explained about KVK technologies, infrastructure, products and demonstration units established at KVK premises. Visited the manufacturing unit of Arka microbial consortium (AMC), micronutrient specials, seed processing unit, post-harvest processing unit and its impact and demonstration of various horticultural technologies. Dr.Loganandhan, Programme Coordinator & Head, KVK Hirehalli explained and showcased the several important facilities that benefit farmers, including the NBB-sponsored Honey Testing Laboratory, Soil and Water Testing Lab, Mushroom Cultivation and Food Processing Labs, Seed Production Unit, Foliar Nutrient Production Unit and bio-pesticide and bio-fertilizer production units. Mr.K.S.Sannamanjunath, Farm Manager explained about the Activities being carried out by the center for disseminating the recent technologies for increasing the income of the farmer. Later all the staff was taken to KVK instructional farm where visited major activities like nursery, different fruit crops grown, natural farming unit, vermicompost unit, integrated farming system unit etc. Visited to live demonstration of different mango and guava varieties, Vegetable seed production fields and multilayer cropping systems at instructional farm for cross learning.At the end day, KVK staff visited the sale counter of KVK purchased the orange flesh jack fruit plants, passion fruit plants and other seed material to plant at KVK instructional farm. The exposure visit was highly informative, provided practical knowledge and valuable connections.

Take home points / Action plan for replicating the technologies at KVKs of PJTSAU
1. Demonstration cum income generation units pertaining to fruit, vegetable, and floriculture crops need to be established at our KVKs for the benefit of the farmers and KVK.
2. Showcasing live demonstrations pertaining to different varieties, crops and technologies at KVK Instructional farms.
3. More focus required on value addition and post-harvest processing in horticultural crops.
4. Initiation of on farm and off farms seed production of open pollinated varieties of vegetable crops for increasing the seed availability to the local farmers.
5. Bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticide production units need to be established at KVK farms for income generation and increasing the bio-input availability to the local farmers.
6. Demonstrations on location specific multilayer cropping system need to be identified and demonstrated to the farmers for increasing the productivity of crops.
7. Action plan for crop diversification with high value horticultural crops alternate to rice and maize is required for doubling the farmer’s income.