Varanasi: A five-day hands-on training programme on ‘Nursery Management and Grafting Techniques in Vegetable Crops’ began at Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), here on Monday for 30 young agri-entrepreneurs from 10 states.The programme aims to provide farmers with theoretical and practical knowledge of modern scientific nursery management and grafting techniques, enabling them to improve productivity, quality and profitability in vegetable production.Programme coordinator Anant Bahadur highlighted the importance, benefits and usefulness of grafting technology in vegetable cultivation. He said the use of grafted plants helps reduce the impact of soil-borne diseases and ensures better plant growth and yield even under adverse conditions.Agricultural extension scientist Neeraj Singh emphasized the need to take grafting technology to farmers’ fields on a wider scale. He said scientific technologies can be effectively disseminated only when entrepreneurs adopt them, experience their benefits and share the knowledge with other farmers.Addressing the agri-entrepreneurs, IIVR director Rajesh Kumar said grafting helps improve plant tolerance to soil-borne diseases, supports better establishment under unfavorable conditions and contributes to higher and better-quality production. He also provided guidance on the selection of grafted plants, proper planting, plant care and scientific crop management.During the training, participants are being taught quality and healthy seedling production, seed selection and treatment, scientific nursery preparation, sowing, irrigation and nutrition management, pest and disease management and plant care. Practical demonstrations and hands-on training in grafting techniques for major vegetable crops, including brinjal and tomato, will also be conducted.Farmers are being trained in the proper selection of rootstock and scion, scientific grafting methods, preparation of graft unions, care of grafted plants, field transplantation and crop management. Scientists said grafted plants are more tolerant to soil-borne diseases and adverse conditions, helping improve crop productivity, quality and farmers’ profitability.
