To showcase the accomplishments of their program and raise funds for future training, the APD hosts an annual horticulture fair at its Kothanur center. This year's fair will feature 336 varieties of organic plants, including 250 ornamental plants and 86 types of medicinal and aromatic plants, along with a workshop for the public.
The fair is managed by 35 special individuals who have received training through the APD's horticulture livelihood program. The program offers three-month horticulture training courses to batches of 35 disabled individuals, totaling 185 people trained each year.
At the fair, there are 250 varieties of ornamental plants and 86 types of medicinal and aromatic plants, including 10 new varieties. Nearly 90,000 plants have been prepared for the event. The public is also invited to attend a three-hour horticulture workshop that will be held on weekends. The proceeds from the fair will fund the APD's horticulture program and help with the recruitment of trainees.
According to Yashodha Patil, the senior manager of APD, horticulture training is beneficial for disabled individuals, as the job does not require educational qualifications and there is a high demand for the workforce.
Trainees, such as Mahadevaswamy K from Chamarajanagar district, who has a locomotor disability, are hopeful of being hired, with salaries estimated to be close to 20,000 rupees, depending on skills.
In addition to providing opportunities for disabled individuals, the fair also received support from companies such as Flipkart, with its CEO Nipun Sharma announcing his company's intention to hire APD trainees. Juniper Networks' Gurumoorthy Mathrubootham also expressed support, stating that his company would be purchasing fruit trees from the fair for its greening initiatives in Hosur.
The Association of People with Disability (APD) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities. One of the ways they achieve this goal is through their horticulture livelihood program, which offers training and employment opportunities in the field of horticulture.
