The Jackfruit Diversity Fair 2017 is being organised by ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) in Benagluru.

The two-day (June 24-25) fair showcases Jackfruit, the world's largest fruit as the most nutritious fruit crops. India being the centre of origin of the fruit, is endowed with huge diversity, the potential of which including the health benefits are yet to be exploited.

A number of value added/ processed products are also available in different parts of the country that need to be popularised. In order to showcase the diversity of jackfruit, the Jackfruit Diversity Fair 2017 is being organised, which is open for common public.

Dr Kirthi Singh, Former Chairman, ASRB inaugurated the fair in the presence of Dr A K Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), Dr MR Dinesh, Director, ICAR-IIHR, Dr G Kalloo, Former Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences) and other dignitaries.

As a part of the programme, a scientists-farmer interface was organized, wherein jackfruit growers (150) from Kodagu, Tumkur and Doddaballpur regions participated.

Shree Padre, progressive jackfruit farmer and social activist, Dr Narayana Gowda, Former Vice-Chancellor, UAS, Bengaluru, Dr Prakash G Patil, Project Coordinator (Tropical Fruits), Dr H Ravishankar, Head, Division of Fruit Crops, ICAR-IIHR, Dr R Venkattakumar, Head, Division of Social Sciences and Training, Dr CK Narayana, Principal Scientist and Chairman, PME Cell, Dr G Karunakaran, Head, Central Horticulture Experimental Station (CHES), Chettalli, Dr Saju George, Programme Coordinator, KVK, Gonikoppal, Dr Shyamalamma, Professor, UAS, Bengaluru etc, participated as resource persons in the interface. There were very meaningful interactions to address various issues in planting material availability, plant protection, processing, value addition, marketing and export, transfer of improved production technologies and mobilising jackfruit growers as farmers producers organizations (FPOs).

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