Current Affairs - Agriculture

The National Horticultural Fair 2024 is hosted by the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) in Bengaluru. As Bengaluru is renowned as the Garden City, this event underscores the city's significance as a hub for advancements in horticulture. The fair showcases innovative technologies aimed at sustainable development in the field of horticulture, highlighting Bengaluru's role as a centre for cutting-edge practices in this sector.

The National Conference on Promotion of Seaweed Cultivation took place in Koteshwar (Kori Creek), Kutch, Gujarat. The conference focused on implementing seaweed cultivation pan-India to diversify marine production and enhance the income of fish farmers, recognizing seaweeds as the 'Medical Food of the 21st Century.'

The Fourth National Chilika Birds Festival took place in Odisha, inaugurated by CM Naveen Patnaik. Celebrated against the scenic backdrop of Chilika Lake, the event featured a captivating 'Photo Exhibition' highlighting the diverse avian life of Chilika, making it a grand celebration for birders and enthusiasts across India.

Dr Himanshu Pathak inaugurated the 3-day Kisan Mela in Anand, Gujarat, organized by ICAR-DMAPR, focusing on promoting medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) cultivation. The event witnessed the participation of more than 2000 farmers, including a significant number of women farmers, and the signing of two MoUs with M/s Vasu Research Centre and Healthcare, Vadodara.

The MoU aims to propel India to the forefront of AI-driven digital agriculture, emphasizing the collaboration between the National Farmers’ Welfare Programme Implementation Society, IndiaAI (Digital India Corporation), and the Wadhwani Foundation in formulating and executing a robust AI strategy.