One day hands on training programme on Chia cultivation and its marketing was organized at ICAR-KVK Gonikoppal for the benefit of 40 Puthari FPCL members on 6th Dec 2019. Dr. Arun Balamatti, Senior Scientist & Head said that Chia crops merit of high nutrient and nutraceutical values, early crop (90 days), Non grazing by domestic and wild animals, easy cultivation, high price (20,000/quintal). The buyback of produce is high which encourages farmers to take up Chia. Mr. Govindappa, Field Assistant of NGO in Mysore district spoke on how the farmers are getting good income under the support of community development organizations in Mysore district.

Later in the programme actual cultivation and its marketing experience was shared by a farmer cum entrepreneur Mr. Basavaraju of H D Kote area. He had also marketed 200 quintals of Chia in last 3 years. The participants interacted with the scientist and the growing farmers and got motivated to take up Chia cultivation in their paddy fallows. In the programe Dr. Saju George KVK Head, Mr. Prabhakar B KVK SMS(Horticulture), Mr. K P Subbaiah (Chairman Puthari) and Mr. Ponnanna (CEO Puthari) FPCL Ltd. were present.