JOIN USTwenty-six progressive farmers from Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts were felicitated on the second day of Krishi Mela-2015 organised by the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru, on Friday.
Mahadevamma, 29, from Gundlupet of Chamarajanagar district, was conferred the taluk-level ‘Best Youth Woman Farmer’ award. “I grow sugarcane, cabbage, tomato, carrots and other vegetables alongside doing dairy farming. Organic farming has only increased the yield and quality of produce,” said the proud woman.
P Ramesh, a farmer from Mysuru, received the district-level ‘Best farmer’ award for practising integrated farming. He grows sugarcane, vegetables and paddy, along with sheep rearing and dairy farming on his three acres of land at Narasipura taluk. His farm also boasts of 687 trees of different varieties. He said, “I make an annual turnover of Rs three lakh and my business has increased over the years after I switched to integrated farming. I urge all farmers to opt for it to sustain themselves.” The Dr R Dwarkinath Best Extension Worker and Best Farmer awards were presented to Dr G M Sujith, Assistant Professor, UAS, and K M Manjunath.
The second day of the mela saw more than a lakh visitors. “Around 1.5 lakh people visited the mela on Friday and the number is expected to double over the weekend. On Thursday we received only around 40,000 people, as the weather was cloudy and there was a light downpour,” said Professor Dr K Shivaram, UAS.
The 623 stalls at the mela were bustling with people, who bought an array of produce and products, including Nagpur oranges, organic produce, traditional foods and agricultural equipment. Krishi Mela is being held at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, GKVK Campus, Ballari Road from 9 am to 6 pm till Sunday.