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Leg-operated millet de-huller draws farmers to organic mela

Last Updated 27 December 2017, 16:48 IST

The 'Pedal Operated Millet De-huller', a technology designed by city-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), is attracting a large number of farmers during the two-day division level 'Organic and Millets Mela', that began at the Scouts and Guides Grounds, near the Deputy Commissioner's office in the city on Wednesday.

CFTRI, a premier institution, has displayed the technology, which has good benefits for the farmers. The leg-operated millet de-husker can also be used without electricity, which is a major problem in rural areas. The CFTRI officials said that the product could be used to de-husk millets such as navane (foxtail millet), samae (little millet), arka (Kodo millet), koralu (proso millet), among others.

The technology, which costs Rs 25,000, can de-husk 10 to 12 kg of millets per hour. A farmer said that they take the millets to large mills to de-husk. The small mill will save their time as well as costs.

Sandeshgowda, a farmer, said, "The technology is good and it would be more helpful for the farmers if the state or Union government announces subsidy for the machine."

B'luru mela on Jan 18

A variety of organic food products and farming technologies are on display in the mela, in which farmers from Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Ramanagara and Mysuru districts participated. The mela is a preliminary event for the three-day international mela scheduled to be held at the Palace Grounds in Bengaluru from January 18.

The Mysore Green Exports, which produces organic products under 'Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana', an elaborated component of Soil Health Management (SHM) scheme, has displayed banana and jaggery.

Its director Sharath Kumar said that as many as 3,700 farmers in Mysuru, Mandya, and Chamarajanagar districts have joined hands under the PKVY and practice organic farming on 3,700 acres of land.

The farmers cultivate ragi, paddy, vegetables, ginger tomato and several varieties of fruits, he said.

The mela also included a cooking competition and technical sessions. Apart from the farmers, officials from food industries and companies are also part of the mela. Discussion on the topics like 'Importance of millets', 'Significance of nutrition and health benefits', 'Forms of millet cultivation, value addition and marketing' and 'Why organic farming and how', have been organised.

Earlier, District In-charge Minister H C Mahadevappa inaugurated the event.

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(Published 27 December 2017, 16:48 IST)

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