The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Aerobic rice exhibit at Krishimela

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Aerobic rice exhibit at Krishimela

Staff Reporter

Over 50 stalls dedicated to organic farming
24 technologies related to crop production, weed control and value addition will be on display

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Farmers’ mela: P.G. Chengappa, Vice-Chancellor, UAS, and G. Eswarappa, Director, at a press conference in Bangalore.

Bangalore: Over two lakh farmers from the State are expected to attend Krishimela 2007, the annual event of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) which begins on November 16. The four-day, 400-stall mela beginning on Friday, will showcase achievements in agriculture, watershed management, horticulture, animal husbandry and post-harvest management.

This year, an added focus will be on market intelligence and agro-processing for income and employment generation, said P.G. Chengappa, Vice-Chancellor, UAS, at a press conference here on Tuesday.

“We will have panel discussions to facilitate interaction between farmers, scientists and entrepreneurs. While farmers might have the capacity and technology for production, the problem is in marketing. We will be giving emphasis this year to marketing extensions and strategies, about when to sell and prices in the domestic and international markets,” he said.

Interaction

Farmers who have been successful in their enterprises will be given a chance to share their experiences, and several financial institutions, societies and private entrepreneurs will participate, he said. The highlights at the Krishimela this year will be eight varieties of crops released by the university, including aerobic rice and high-yielding beans. Also, 24 technologies recommended for release related to crop production, weed control and value addition will be on display, Dr. Chengappa said. Organic farming will be another thrust area, said G. Eswarappa, Director of Extension, UAS.

“The mela will have an organic agricultural exhibition and an exhibition of associated farm equipment and processing machinery. There will be over 50 stalls dedicated to organic farming,” he said. Farmers are adopting organic farming practices, but sustaining productivity for more than three or four years has been the challenge, he added. Dr. Eswarappa said that 34 awards will be presented to farmers, both men and women, from 17 districts “in recognition of their innovative contributions to the growth of the sector”. Krishimela will be inaugurated by Governor Rameshwar Thakur.

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