Date: 11th October 2025 Venue: ICAR–Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta, Bengaluru

Total Farmer Participants: 198 , Male Farmers: 88 , Female Farmers: 110

ICAR–Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, organized a special programme on 11th October 2025 in conjunction with the nationwide live telecast of the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s launch of major agricultural schemes held at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. The event aimed to sensitize farmers about the newly launched agricultural missions — the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses — while also creating awareness on various flagship schemes and technological advancements in the agriculture and horticulture sectors. The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 250 farmers representing the districts of Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru, and Bengaluru Rural. The participants gathered at IIHR to view the live proceedings and take part in a series of informative and interactive sessions organized by the institute. The event reflected IIHR’s continued commitment to aligning its research, innovation, and outreach activities with national priorities for agricultural development. The programme commenced with registration and a warm welcome to the visiting farmers. Following this, the Director, ICAR–IIHR, along with other dignitaries, interacted with the participants, highlighting the importance of farmer–scientist collaboration in accelerating technology adoption. Subsequently, Dr. Ramya H. R. and Dr. Atheequlla G. A. delivered an informative session outlining the objectives and features of the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, the benefits of GST reduction for the agriculture sector, and various flagship schemes of the Government of India aimed at promoting modernization, diversification, and sustainability in farming. The live telecast of the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s programme at 11:30 a.m. featured the launch of two major national initiatives — the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (₹24,000 crore) and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (₹11,440 crore). The telecast instilled a sense of pride and enthusiasm among the farmers, who expressed appreciation for the government’s continued efforts toward agricultural transformation and farmer welfare.

Further, Dr. Sriram S. addressed the farmers on the National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) and the Farmers’ Grievance Redressal Portal. His session emphasized the significance of real-time pest monitoring and digital grievance mechanisms for effective farm management. The subsequent segment featured the distribution of agricultural inputs to beneficiary farmers — a gesture symbolizing the institute’s commitment to empowering farmers through tangible support and the dissemination of improved technologies. In the post-lunch session, Dr. B. L. Manjunath delivered an enlightening talk on the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), highlighting the principles and benefits of residue-free, sustainable cultivation practices. This was followed by a session by Dr. Atheequlla G. A., who introduced the farmers to several improved varieties and technologies developed at ICAR–IIHR, including high-yielding and disease-resistant horticultural crops suited to diverse agro-climatic conditions.

To provide hands-on exposure, participants were taken on a visit to the Mushroom Production Laboratory under the guidance of Dr. Chandrashekara C., where they learned about commercial mushroom cultivation techniques and value-addition opportunities. This was followed by a field and nursery visit, giving farmers practical insights into nursery management, precision farming techniques, and newly developed horticultural varieties at IIHR. The day concluded with a valedictory session during which farmers reflected on their key learnings and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the programme. Overall, the event at IIHR successfully complemented the national Krishi Programme by linking high-level policy announcements with grassroots-level understanding and action. The programme reaffirmed the institute’s pivotal role in promoting Aatmanirbhar Krishi (selfreliant agriculture) through innovation, capacity building, and farmer-centric outreach.