Organic & Millet Mela in Hubballi from tomorrow

To create awareness among the citizens about health benefits of organically grown food produces and millets, and to link the farmers with food industry, a two-day Organic & Millet Trade Mela will be held at Indira Glass House in the City on December 30 and 31.

Organic farmers and millet growers in Dharwad, Gadag, and Haveri districts, who are members of farmers' groups that have organic certificate, will display their produces at the event organised by Agriculture Department and District Regional Co-operative Organic Farmers Associations' Federation.

As many as 25 Bengaluru-based companies, who are engaged in food processing and marketing industry, will also take part in the event, so that farmers can interact with them and have a tie-up. In addition, industries preparing post-harvest processing machines will also be there.

Agriculture Department Joint Director T S Rudreshappa told media persons here on Thursday that a total of 100 stalls would be set up for the event, while University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), and Krishi Vijnana Kendra would also participate.

Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda would inaugurate the event on Saturday (December 30) at 9:30 am, while District In-charge Minister Vinay Kulkarni would inaugurate the exhibition. Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar would preside over the function, while a booklet on success stories would also be released, Mr Rudreshappa added.

Rangoli and drawing competition for students, and millet cooking competition would also be held on Saturday. Interested can call on 92779 31327 or 82779 31381.

Millet walk today

To promote consumption of organic food and millets, a 'Millet walk' would be held from railway sports ground to Indira Glass House on Friday (December 29) at 6:00 am.

Police Commissioner M N Nagaraj would flag off the walk, while members of various organisations would take part in it, Mr Rudreshappa said.

Such events are being held at 10 places in the State, in the background of the international-level exhibition to be held in Bengaluru from January 19, he noted.

Cultivation in dist

The government is providing Rs 1,000 incentive per acre for growing millets, and millets are being grown on 800 hectares in the district, Mr Rudreshappa said.

Under 'Savayava Bhagya' scheme, NGOs are also being involved to promote growing organic produces on 100 acres of land in each hobli, while they are being grown on around 2,000 hectares in the district. Farmers' groups have also been formed, and they are being helped to get the organic certificate, he stated.

Farmers are ready to grow more millets and organic produces, but they need proper marketing facility, he added.