ICAR-IIHR Launches Plant Health Clinic and Seed Production Center to Transform Horticulture Landscape

The Indian Council of Agriculture Institute (ICAR) - Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) has launched a cutting-edge Plant Health clinic, costing ₹1.08 crore under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

This clinic offers diagnostic services and management advice for farmers and horticultural growers. The clinic's experts conduct thorough pathogen isolation tests, identifying viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases, thereby aiding immediate isolation and subsequent awareness campaigns.

The clinic issues advisories every 15 days, educating farmers about prevalent diseases in their crops. Presently, 50 farmers receive such guidance, a number expected to double with the clinic's introduction. While the clinic's services are free for farmers, private entities would incur charges.

In addition, a state-of-the-art Seed Production Centre, funded by HAL's CSR mandate at ₹2.53 crore, has been inaugurated on IIHR's premises. This novel collaboration is anticipated to not only enhance ICAR-IIHR's seed variety reach and market share but also elevate the seed unit's annual turnover from ₹8 crore to ₹16-18 crore within two to three years. The unit's advanced coating techniques are set to improve seed quality significantly.

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Further innovations include a Centre for Spawn Incubation and Capacity Development, a Graduation Dining Centre, an Agri-Business Incubation Centre, and more.

Mr. Himanshu Pathak, secretary, DARE, Government of India and DG, ICAR, noted the significance of horticulture production, surpassing food grain production in the country. He encouraged ICAR-IIHR to aim for global excellence in horticulture research.

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Kamalam or dragonfruit cultivation has expanded in Karnataka, covering 7,000 acres with a production of 10,000 tonnes annually. To boost its visibility, S. D. Babu Siddakumar, president of the Karnataka Exotic Fruit Farmers Association (KEFA), emphasized the need for enhanced marketing and advertising. The newly inaugurated Centre of Excellence on Kamalam fruit aims to enhance sustainable production through bilateral cooperation.

As Horticulture surpasses food grain production in India, ICAR-IIHR's strides toward global recognition in the field stand highlighted.

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