National Horticulture Board Schemes’ awareness at ICAR-KVK, CCARI North Goa

    On January 12, 2024, ICAR-KVK, North Goa, and ICAR-CCARI Goa organized a one-day awareness program on 'National Horticulture Board Schemes' in collaboration with the National Horticulture Board (NHB), Pune, and the Department of Agriculture, Government of Goa with main aims to help farmers for sustainable horticultural crop production and processing in this region. The chief guest was Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director of ICAR CCARI Goa. In his inaugural speech, he narrated gaps in the horticulture crop productivity of Goa with the national average. He encouraged Goan farmers to use high-tech horticulture technologies like improved planting material and scientific management practices to reduce the production gap and maximize crop production. Guest of Honour Dr Vijaykumar Doharey, NHB's Deputy Managing Director, explained that the board's goals include developing a production cluster for integrated high-tech commercial horticulture, post-harvest and cold chain infrastructure, and new technologies. Mr. Dattaraj Desai, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture, explained the various horticulture schemes and subsidies implemented by the Goa government. Dr. A.K. Singh, Deputy Director, National Horticulture Board, Pune, briefed NHB on credit-linked back-end subsidy schemes, including project-based commercial horticulture development in open fields with protected cover. Drs. V. Arunachalam, Principal Scientist, and N. Bommayasamy, Senior Scientist and Head, presented agro-techniques to boost Goa's major horticultural crops' productivity. This program helped 97 progressive Goan farmers and farm women. The program ended with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Anukush Bajad. Earlier, Dr. N. Bommayasamy, Senior Scientist & Head, welcomed the gathering. Dr. Sanjaykumar Udharwar, SMS (Animal Science), KVK, North Goa, has coordinated the entire program.