Three days hands-on training on “Supplementary and Hand Pollination in Dragon Fruit” was conducted at farmers’ fields. On 28^th September 2021 after demonstration of experimental results at Dragon fruit orchard of ICAR-NIASM, farmers were educated about the different aspects of pollination and also trained practically emasculation and pollination techniques. Farmers practiced the emasculation and self and cross pollination methods under guidance of scientists/young professionals. On 29^th September 2021 visited farmer’s Dragon Fruit orchard at Malegaon to demonstrate and train the farmers and skilled labours techniques of emasculation and self and cross pollination. Farmers and skilled labours pollinated more than 300 flowers (Selfed-100 flowers and crossed-200 flowers). On the last day of training i.e 30^th September 2021 visited progressive farmer’s Dragon fruit orchard and explained different methods to prevent flower/immature fruit drop including bagging, supplementary and hand pollination and also demonstrated self and cross pollination practically. Our team trained labours different techniques of pollination methods and assisted to pollinate more than 100 flowers. The cross and self-pollinated flowers labelled and visited the farmers orchards every week to follow up results of pollination till harvesting which was done on 2^nd October, 2021.

The hands-on training programme was conducted and coordinated by Boraiah, K. M., Vijaysinha Kakade, Harisha C B, Basavaraj P S, Prakash Kate and Karan Nikam.