Organic farm mela begins in City

The mela, themed ‘Connecting producers and consumers,’ was inaugurated by Dr Baramagowda, President, National Organic Farmers Association in a traditional manner by worshipping the heap of grain.

The two days mela focussed on showcasing the diversity of horticulture crops, food crops, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants and post harvest technologies practised since ages.

Aimed at bringing together the consumers and producers, the event saw the farmers share their knowledge and learn new techniques to increase their productivity.

“ We are also organising sessions to share knowledge regarding manure, grafting and horticulture crops cultivation,” said Krishna Prasad, Convenor, Sahaja Samrudha.
Well known organic farmers like Subhash Sharma from Maharastra, and Sundar Raman from Tamil Nadu shared their experiences with the farmers.

Raman spoke of Bio pesticide, home made liquid manure, legume culture which he has practised successfully since several decades.

Sharma, an expert on short duration crops, spoke on growing vegetables using contour methods. He also spoke of zero budget farming using farmyard manure. Dr Devkumar, Organic Farming Research Institute, Shimogha, shared his research results regarding the use of ‘Panchagavya’ and other nutrient management issues.

Millets movement attracts

To promote and revive millet cultivation across the country, the Andhra Pradesh based Millet Network of India (MNI), had showcased hundreds of millets and food products prepared using millets during the mela.

The event witnessed over a dozen delicacies prepared of millets, which were instant hits among the buyers. Also on display were 70 varieties of finger millet (ragi), 30 varieties of fox tailed millet, 25 varieties of little millet, Several varieties of great millets (jowar and bajra), kodo millet, pearl or spiked millet, barn yard millet and proso millets.

P Satish, Convenor, MNI, said that the global warming across the globe is likely to result in drought and decrease in water resources and which inturn is bound to impact the agricultural produce of rice and other crops. He said that the millets being drought resistant and water can withstand temperature upto 2-5 degree celsius.

Considered as pest free crops, it can be cultivated on all kinds of soil and are of high nutrition value.