The three-day long millet mela inaugurated at Lalbagh Botanical Garden attracted scores of people even before it was flagged off by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.
People of all age groups were seen purchasing different types of millets, masalas, eatables, organic and herbal cosmetics. However, some unique items like herbal cough syrup, eucalyptus honey, multifloral Himalayan honey, lychee and jamun honey, healthy diet fries, diet food, instant food, herbal and green tea, organic coffee and sweet treats were also very popular.
The mela is being organised by Institute of Education, Environment, Development and Agriculture, Horticulture Department and Grameen Kutumba. H M Sridhar Murthy, proprietor of Grameen Kutumba, said that the mela is being organised in the city for the fifth year.
Farmers who have shifted from cultivating sugarcane and paddy to millets were felicitated on the occasion by Deve Gowda and environmentalist A N Yellappa Reddy. Farmers were also honoured for setting an example by encouraging others to use rainwater harvesting methods to cultivate millets, sell the seeds and also encourage sales.
On the occasion, English and Kannada books on the importance of millets along with recipes were released.
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