Central Coffee Research Institute has organized online refresher course for Extension officers of Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and South Kodagu zones of Karnataka Region as well as Wayanad zone of Kerala Region, in two batches from 19th to 20th August 2020and from 24th to 26th August 2020. The programme was structured with focus on the select topics of field relevance. Thus, the training mainly highlighted the research updates in coffee varieties, raising quality planting material, maintenance of soil fertility rationalization of inputs with systematic soil analysis, innovative planting designs for productivity improvement to facilitate mechanization in farm operations, new interventions in pest disease management with special reference to coffee white stem borer, climate resilient technologies to minimize the crop losses, recent trends in on-farm processing value addition at estate level and cost of cultivation in coffee. There was a very good interaction on every subject, where the new knowledge has been shared to the extension professionals who in-turn appraised the field problems and the technology requirements. As per the general feedback, all the topics covered were very informative and generated inquisitive interest and greatly helped inequipping the field functionaries with advancements in coffee cultivation technologies which help in rendering appropriate advisory support at field level and address the day to day challenges faced by the coffee grower community. In total 59 officialsparticipated for the first session and 78 officials participated for the second session. The online refresher course is first of its kind initiated in Coffee Board and more than the expectation; the extension officials located in very remote areas couldalso participate online in the deliberations of the refresher course. This initiative has opened new opportunities to organize 'webinars' onspecific topics to coffee planting community in an effective manner and share the latest updates.
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