National Horticultural Fair 2021-A Success Story

Abstract

The ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta, Bengaluru, organized five- day National Horticulture Fair (NHF 2021) from February 8th to 12th   with the theme ‘Horticulture: for start-up and standup India’ in collaboration with several agencies. The fair was held on a dual mode with the approaches of virtual and physical. The virtual mode had the officials of ICAR Institutes, Horticulture Universities, Directors of State Horticulture Departments, Heads of KVKs and representatives from private industry, press personnel, farmers and students attending the event. The event had 255 demonstration plots of various varieties/technologies developed by the Institute. The problems related with the growing of horticultural crops in various regions of the country were addressed by the experts through live video interaction with the help of the demonstration plots.  A total viewing of 54 lakhs was recorded during the five days of this fair, which included one way communication viewing through social media net\\\\work (14,50,000), video conference viewing through 7000 logins in various places of KVK’s, FPO’s and Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences & Technology Trust accounted for a total primary source viewing was 4,20,000. The reach from the secondary sources through the subscription to our YouTube channel (followers) was 38.20 lakhs. Viewership was also noticed from 11 different countries. The footfall for the physical fair was 56,000. Publicity preceding the fair by way of animated videos, press and media played a great role in making the fair successful as commercialization of 12 technologies also took place. Various private and public institutions as well as entrepreneurs who have purchased the technology from the Institute got an opportunity to display their products. The modus operandi and the details of methodology are discussed.