Krishi Mela begins in Brahmavar
Zonal Agricultural Research Station (ZARS) at Brahmavar organised a two- day ‘Krishi Mela-2010’ in association with Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Brahmavar and Mangalore, Department of Agriculture, Horticulture and Watershed Department Udupi, SKDRDP Udupi and Mangalore District Krishi Samaj and Directorate of Cashew and Cocoa Development, Cochin here on Saturday.
Speaking after inaugurating the Mela, Udupi-Chikmagalur MP D V Sadananda Gowda said that agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy and farmers play a major role in developing the country. “The Governments should give importance towards improving the scenario of agricultural activities in our country. Farmers should be supported with modern mechanised technologies to get better yields,” he added.
Stressing the need to take measures to provide marketing facility for the agriculture produce, Gowda said that middlemen should be kept at distance in order to protect farmers from their clutches.
Symposiums on ‘Cashew and other plantation crops of the Coastal Zone,’ ‘Cocoa and mixed cropping system’ and ‘Integrated farming system of paddy’ and ‘Opportunities for mechanisation’ will be held during the Krishi mela. Interactions of scientists with farmers, demonstrations, discussions, field visits in the Zonal Agricultural Research Station farm will be part of the mela.
Expo
The centre of attraction in the mela was display of the innovative agricultural technologies and recent farm machineries that were put up on either side of the venue by around 60 stake holders.
‘High yielding rice varieties and seed production’, ‘model watershed,’ ‘preparation of Dapog nursery and SRI method of paddy cultivation,’ ‘CO-4 fodder grass demonstrations,’ ‘rainwater harvesting and storage’ ‘multi stored cropping system and nutrient management in coconut,’ ‘attractive agricultural exhibition,’ ‘demonstration of organic manure,’ ‘demonstration on value added food products,’ ‘cashew grafting,’ exhibition and sale of decorative plants and preparation and demonstration of Bordeaux mixture were all part of the expo.
Farmers in large number were seen collecting information on the new technologies. The stalls included all required ingredients for farming activities. The newly introduced four varieties of crop cutting machine successfully grabbed the attention of the farmers at the exhibition.
