The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Vegetable show a runaway success

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Sunday, Jun 01, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Vegetable show a runaway success

D. Radhakrishnan

It provides an opportunity for learning more about green house technology

Photo: M. Sathyamoorthy

An attraction: A massive carrot put up at the venue of the Vegetable Show at Nehru Park in Kotagiri on Saturday. —

Udhagamandalam: Organised in a splendid manner by the Department of Horticulture at the Nehru Park in Kotagiri on Saturday, the first Vegetable Show was a runaway success. In the process it brought the curtain down on the 2008 season related activities in this vacation destination in a memorable manner.

Having generated considerable interest and made the people, particularly in Kotagiri and surroundings, wait with bated breath, the show lived up to the expectations of all sections of the society.

Impact

For the entertainment-starved people of the town and the small farmers reeling under the impact of a prolonged crisis in the tea industry, the show is likely to be the topic of discussion for a long time.

While the cynosure of all eyes was a 15-feet high carrot made of 6000 carrots, a vegetable rangoli, an attractive floral design to denote the maiden status of the show and a massive cup and saucer made of carnations vied with each other in providing backdrops for photographs and videos.

Pointing out that the display conveyed the message that tea cultivation and floriculture should go hand in hand for sustainable development, the Joint Director of Horticulture, R. Selvaraj, told The Hindu that the show had evoked a very good response.

Hailing the positive attitude of the local people, he said that they had responded with alacrity to requests made for sponsorship of various aspects of the show. Stating that 14 stalls had been put up at the show, he said that farmers from various parts of the Nilgiris had participated enthusiastically. The show had also provided an opportunity for learning more about green house technology.

Variety

While a stall displaying vegetable carvings caught one’s eye, visitors got to see a wide variety of vegetables grown on the hills.

The Assistant Director of Horticulture, N. Mani, said that a downpour notwithstanding, the show had gone off without a hitch.

Eight rolling cups, 30 trophies and cash prizes totalling Rs. 20,000 were given. Though there was no entry fee, crowd control was not a source of concern for the security personnel as the visitors filed past the stalls in an orderly manner.

Green campaigners like the Nilgiris Environment and Cultural Service Trust used the occasion to urge the people to spare a thought for the environment.

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