Field Day cum Training Programme on Teasel Gourd organized at CHES, Chettalli on 3 September 2026

The programme was graced by Dr. C. Babou, Joint Director Research, Coffee Board, Chettalli as the Chief Guest, along with Dr. Harsh Vardhan Batra, Former Director, DRDO, Mysore, as the Guest of Honor. Two progressive teasel gourd farmers named Mr. Mahesh Huderi Biddappa, Katakeri Village, Madikeri Taluk, and Mr. Gopala Krishna, Mysore Rural were felicitated for their significant achievement in successful cultivation of Teasel gourd.

 Dr Ramesh Babu R, (Scientist, Vegetable science) has delivered a detailed lecture on “Scientific cultivation of Teasel gourd”. Ms. Haritha Mohan (Scientist, Plant Pathology), has delivered a detailed lecture on Major pest and disease affecting Teasel gourd. An interactive session was conducted during the programme, where farmers discussed their production-related problems, pest and disease incidences and other constraints in teasel gourd cultivation. Scientists and experts provided technical recommendations and clarified the queries raised by the participants. As part of the programme, a field visit was organized to the Arka Bharat teasel gourd demonstration field of CHES, Chettalli. During the field visit, participants were provided practical exposure to crop growth, production practices, pollination techniques and field-level pest and disease problems.

The programme was organized under the guidance of Dr. Muralidhara B.M, Head I/C, as Chairman, Dr. Ramesh Babu, served as the Organizing Secretary, while Ms. Haritha Mohan served as the Co-organizing Secretary. The programme served as an important platform for technology dissemination, farmer–scientist interaction and sharing of practical experiences related to teasel gourd cultivation.