Stickers to authenticate Mattu gulla released

To differentiate Mattu gulla or Mattu brinjal from other varieties of brinjal available in the market, a sticker was released at Mattu in Katpady on Sunday.

Mattu gulla, the famous brinjal from Udupi district, which gives an exceptional flavour to the preparation, has engulfed the taste buds of the food buffs much beyond the district. The variety of brinjal is cultivated by farmers in only Mattu and Kaipunjal villages in Udupi district.

The stickers were brought out jointly by Mattugulla Belegarara Sangha, Nabard, School of Management, Manipal University.

The sticker was released by Sode Vadiraja Mutt seer Vishwavallabha Theertha Swami. He called upon the farmers to maintain the quality of Mattu gulla. The fertility of the soil in the region has supported the cultivation of Mattu gulla, the seer said.

MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake said, "Kaup in Udupi has given prominence to agriculture since time immemorial. Shankarapura Mallige and Mattu gulla have given international recognition to the village."

Sorake also said that the farmers in and around Mattu are hard-working. "Amid the fear of sea erosion and intrusion of salt water into the farm land, the farmers have been cultivating Mattu gulla in the region. Tender has been invited for widening of Mattu bridge at a cost of Rs 4 crore. The work on constructing a sea wall at a cost of Rs 79 crore to check sea erosion will be initiated," he assured the people.

Nabard Udupi assistant general manager Ramesh said that, to preserve Mattu gulla for longer period, a proposal is being prepared to set up a cold storage unit.

Gulla Belegarara Sangha president Dayanand Bangera presided over the programme.