Exhibition on Avocado cultivation held in Bangalore

BAGALORE: One day Brain Storming Session and Exhibition on Avocado was organized at CHES, Chettalli on Wednesday. This programme is organized to discuss various issues related to avocado industry in India and to create a platform for exchange of ideas and thoughts among the scientific fraternity, entrepreneurs, farmers, growers, students from different parts of the country who have been associated with avocado cultivation, promotion and marketing.

More than 150 scientists, processors, planters industrial people from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, North eastern states participated in the programme. Apart from this,  scientists from IIHR, Bangalore, DFRL, Mysore  IISR, Appangala, University of Agriculture Mudigere, CRSS, Chettalli, CFTRI, Mysore, TANU Coimbatore, KVK, Gonikoppal, College of Forestry, Ponnampet and officials of state Government were participated in the programme.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Air vice Marshall O.P.Tiwari, VSM, Air force station, Mysore. More than 100 promising selection of avocado maintain in CHES, Chettalli and more than 50 collections from farmers and many post-harvest products of avocado was displayed at this occasion.

The selected entries were awarded.  The Inaugural session was chaired by Dr. T. Manjunath Rao, Director, IIHR. Dr. P.G. Chengappa, Former Vice Chancellor, University of Agricultural Science Bangalore, Air vice Marshall  O.P. Tiwari, VSM, Air force station, Mysore,  Dr. H.V. Batra, Director, DFRL,Mysore and Sri. Bose Mandanna were chief guests at this occasion. Dr. P.C. Tripathi, Head CHES, Chettalli welcomed all dignitaries and planters. The Chairman and Guests highlighted the importance of avocado and the prospects of it’s cultivation in India.

The technical session was chaired by Dr. P.G. Chengappa, Former Vice Chancellor, University of Agricultural Science Bangalore and Dr. R. Chithraichelvan, Dean, Rai Tech University was Co-chairman.  Dr. P.C.Tripathi,CHES Chettalli, Dr.S.K. Dutta, ICARRCNEH, Mizoram, Dr Ananthan, TNAU, Mr.Veera Aarasu,Progressive Planter, TamilNadu , Dr. Siby Varghese,DFRL, Mysore, Mr Abhilash, Avacado India, Nashik, Mr Madhusudan, M/s Vishal Natural Foods, Bangalore,  Dr. Shivaram, IIHR, Bangalore  presented papers on Genetic resources, production technologies, processing, marketing and other aspects of avocado.

A Souvenir and abstract on avocado were also released on this occasion. Several queries were raised by the growers regarding cultivation, feasibility, profitability on avocado cultivation in India. The experiences of existing avocado cultivation in parts of Tamilnadu, Karnataka indicates that this crop may be successful in many subtropical and sub temperate areas of the country particularly Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra and North East India.   Several planters also shared their experience with this crop.

During the field visit to  the avocado blocks of CHES, Chettalli the delegates were given exposure to the avocado germplasm flowering and fruiting particularly on avocado. The programme was coordinated by Dr. R. Senthil Kumar and Dr. V. Sankar.