<p>Taking a tour of the Agriculture and Food Security Expo at St Xavier's College here, the US President displayed a keen interest in the products on display.<br /><br />He went to the IFFCO Kisan Sanchar stall and enquired about how low-cost services are being extended to Indian farmers through mobile telephones using Airtel's platform.<br /><br />When a company official explained to him the cost- effectiveness of the handset, the US President said: "It is a great idea. Do it across the world... Great work, keep it up."<br /><br />The President tried his hands at stripping a corn cob after being inspired by a woman farmer who showcased a small agro tool.<br /><br />"It reduces woman labour by 30 per cent. It is remarkable," he said, turning to lensmen covering the event.<br /><br />Earlier, as he stepped inside the venue, Obama took his tie off, feeling the Mumbai heat and humidity. Wearing a white shirt and a black trousers, he had his sleeves rolled up.<br /><br />When Vandana Bhairikoppe, another farmer and facilitator of agriculture NGO Digital Green, presented him a folded wall hanging, Obama expressed his thanks and said: "I will hang it in the White House."<br /><br />While shaking hands with one of the farmers dressed in traditional Maharashtrian attire at the exhibition, he said: "Very nice to see you."<br /><br />At the PepsiCo stall, he picked up a big potato, turned around and asked a White House official, "Will it be expensive? What do you think?"<br /><br />The President charmed the exhibitors with his down-to- earth nature and easily struck a chord with them.<br /><br />The exhibition was co-organised by the US Agency for International Development Aid and Indian industry body CII.<br /><br />Obama also went to a small exhibition by child rights and education NGO Pratham and signed on copies of books on Mahatma Gandhi.</p>
<p>Taking a tour of the Agriculture and Food Security Expo at St Xavier's College here, the US President displayed a keen interest in the products on display.<br /><br />He went to the IFFCO Kisan Sanchar stall and enquired about how low-cost services are being extended to Indian farmers through mobile telephones using Airtel's platform.<br /><br />When a company official explained to him the cost- effectiveness of the handset, the US President said: "It is a great idea. Do it across the world... Great work, keep it up."<br /><br />The President tried his hands at stripping a corn cob after being inspired by a woman farmer who showcased a small agro tool.<br /><br />"It reduces woman labour by 30 per cent. It is remarkable," he said, turning to lensmen covering the event.<br /><br />Earlier, as he stepped inside the venue, Obama took his tie off, feeling the Mumbai heat and humidity. Wearing a white shirt and a black trousers, he had his sleeves rolled up.<br /><br />When Vandana Bhairikoppe, another farmer and facilitator of agriculture NGO Digital Green, presented him a folded wall hanging, Obama expressed his thanks and said: "I will hang it in the White House."<br /><br />While shaking hands with one of the farmers dressed in traditional Maharashtrian attire at the exhibition, he said: "Very nice to see you."<br /><br />At the PepsiCo stall, he picked up a big potato, turned around and asked a White House official, "Will it be expensive? What do you think?"<br /><br />The President charmed the exhibitors with his down-to- earth nature and easily struck a chord with them.<br /><br />The exhibition was co-organised by the US Agency for International Development Aid and Indian industry body CII.<br /><br />Obama also went to a small exhibition by child rights and education NGO Pratham and signed on copies of books on Mahatma Gandhi.</p>