Off-campus training on “Horticultural Crop Management” and “Improved Flower Crop Technologies” conducted for Tribal farmers of Salem district, Tamil Nadu
An One day off- campus training programme on "Horticultural Crop Management" and "Improved flower crop technologies" was conducted for the tribal farmers of the Kalrayan hills in Karumandurai, Salem district, on 12th December 2025. The session on Horticultural Crop Management programme was led by
Dr. V. Sankar, Principal Scientist, Co. PI (AINTHINAI Project). He explained the importance of the project and highlighted the technologies of ICAR- IIHR vegetables and fruits suitable for the Karumandurai region to support the welfare of tribal beneficiaries. He also discussed about the farmer’s needs for specific vegetable and fruit crop technologies and assured them that these would be distributed shortly.
The training on ‘Improved Flower Crop Technologies; was conducted by
Dr. H. P. Sumangala Principal Scientist & Co. PI (AINTHINAI Project). She discussed the market availability and the economic benefits of cultivating flower crops such as tuberose and marigold in that region and ensured that Arka Parimala flowers of rose crop will be linked with the perfumery industry, thereby benefiting the farmers in that region.
The training programme was further supported by Mr. Senthil Kumar, Assistant Horticultural officer, Pethanaickenpalayam, who explained the process of organic certification and its subsidies and how the certification enhances market demand. He also elaborated the availability of nurseries, grading facilities, cold storage and drip irrigation system along with the subsidies provided to tribal farmers, encouraged them to make use of these resources. An interaction session with the farmers was also held, focusing on new variety and technologies. Discussions included the introduction of new flower and fruit crops suitable for the regions and the market opportunities for their produce.
Around 150 farmers attended the training including 30 flower crop farmers and 120 general farmers from Karumandurai were benefitted by this training programme. As final moment of the training the ICAR- IIHR products such as Bio-fertilizers, Vegetable special, Pungam soap, Neem soap along with the seeds of Cow Pea, Dolichos, French bean, Tuberose, Aster and Marigold were distributed to the tribal farmers of Kalrayan hills, Karumandurai. This programme was coordinated by Dr. V. Sankar and Dr. H. P. Sumangala
Co. PI’s of the Project.
