The Hindu : Karnataka / Mangalore News : Krishi mela at Kateel from January 6

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 30, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mangalore

Krishi mela at Kateel from January 6

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE, DEC. 29. The Union Minister for Rural Development, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, will inaugurate a three-day "krishi mela" (agriculture meet) at Kateel, near here, on January 6.

The meet will be held under the auspices of Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP).

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, the honorary president of the reception committee of the meet and Chief Whip of Karnataka Government, K. Abhayachandra Jain, and the Executive Director of SKDRDP, L.H. Manjunath, said that this would be the 25th annual "krishi mela" organised by the SKDRDP in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district.

Mr. Jain said that this year's meet would focus on paddy cultivation. In the undivided Dakshina Kannada district, paddy cultivation is more labour intensive when compared with other paddy cultivating areas. It demands more labour and the yield will be less.

Hence the meet would throw light on the cultivation of different varieties of paddy, which require less water and result in more yield. The meet would also discuss new methods of paddy cultivation like Madagascar.

Panel discussions

There will be eight panel discussions on different aspects of agriculture.

It includes topics such as water conservation and water harvesting, mixed farming, dairy farming, dry farming and agriculture in future. Discussions will be held on fund management in self-help groups (SHGs), women empowerment and agriculture marketing.

On the valedictory day, an open session will be held on "Role of elected representatives in rural development."

Exhibition

Mr. Jain said that on the second day of the meet the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijay Singh, would inaugurate an exhibition of agricultural machinery and cattle show.

Dr. Manjunath said that 1.50 lakh people are expected to attend the three-day meet, out of which about 75,000 will be farmers and the remaining will be persons associated with agricultural activities.

He said that the State Agriculture Minister, K. Srinivasa Gowda, would deliver the valedictory address. The SKDRDP, headed by D. Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala, is engaged in empowerment of small and marginal farmers and persons from weaker sections of society.

The project promotes agriculture, transfer of technology, promotion of hybrid crops, eco farming, non-farm sector activities and has been conducting annual "krishi melas" to build confidence among farmers and enthuse others to take up farming.

In the meet, farmers could interact with progressive farmers, scientists and manufacturers.

In this year's meet, one day has been earmarked to discuss aspects on women empowerment.

The meet will be held near Durgaparameshwari temple at Kateel.

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