A National Horticulture Fair organised by the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research in its campus near Bengaluru was inaugurated by Sri Ravi Shankar Guruji of Art of Living Foundation today. The Fair to be organised till February 12 with a theme of Start up and Stand up India is aimed at making farmers successful entrepreneurs.<br />”&nbsp;<br />”Addressing the inaugural function virtually the Director General of ICAR Trilochan Mahapatra has said that research in Horticulture has helped improve nutrition quotient in fruits and vegetables to counter malnutrition and anaemia in children below five years.<br />”&nbsp;<br />”He also said that the call given by the Prime Minister to double farmers' income by 2022 has brought in a paradigm shift in the policies and programmes executed by ICAR. He noted that many farmers have doubled their income due this change in thinking. Deputy Director General from ICAR, Dr. A K Singh also spoke on this occasion.<br />”&nbsp;<br />”The five days fair in IIHR is organised in hybrid mode with physical and virtual participation. The institute has displayed 300 high yielding horticulture crops and demonstrated 254 varieties of disease resistant high density fruits, vegetables and flowers. Also on display are vegetable and fruit vending vans, tricycle and a high humidity storage box. During the inaugural Arka Vyapar mobile app was also launched that will help farmers linkage with purchasers to avoid middlemen. A jackfruit chocolate wrap was also launched for production and sale by Women self help group.<br />”&nbsp;<br />”<span style="color: #222222;">The Director of IIHR Dr.M R Dinesh informed that the institute has helped transform farmers into entrepreneurs who are producing 25 tonnes of seeds purchased by the institute. The seeds are now available online and delivered to the doorstep.&nbsp;</span><br />