3-day national organic, millet fair in B'luru from April 28

​To strengthen Karnataka and Bengaluru as organic hubs for both farmers and marketers, the state government will hold a first-of-its kind ‘National Trade Fair - Organics and Millets-2017’ from April 28-30 in the city.

Addressing a gathering at a curtain-raiser of the fair, Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda​ said, “Farmers find it difficult to market their organic produce and don't get connected to marketers despite the demand for organic produce. The fair aims to bridge that gap between marketers and farmers and we want to hold it every two years.” He said that the government wants to revive millet cultivation in the state and is working towards it.

“About Rs 180 crore has been spent over the last four years for organising awareness programmes, farmer meets and workshops on organic products.”

The conference, whose theme is ‘Organics beyond agriculture and improving access to markets,’ will bring together all stakeholders, policy makers, government and non-government bodies. Hosted by the Agriculture Department in association with International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture, the fair will take place at Palace Grounds. For details, visit www.organics-millets.in. Gowda said that desi foods such as millets are in no way inferior to superfoods from other countries and exhorted people to consume them.