UAS Dharwad to host mega farm fair from Sept. 13

The annual mega farm fair, Krishi Mela, organised to showcase new farm technologies, success stories of progressive farmers, innovations in the farm sector, new varieties and other farm-related developments, will be organised from September 13 to 16 on University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) campus in Dharwad.

Addressing presspersons at UAS Dharwad on Thursday, Vice-Chancellor P.L. Patil said that 562 exhibition stalls, including 162 hi-tech, 272 economy, 99 machinery, 50 livestock, 13 field and 29 food, have been set up on the university premises.

The theme of this year’s Krishi Mela is “Soil Health and Traditional Varieties for Nutritional Food Security”.

“Considering the continuous rainfall, we have stretched our budget and will be erecting German tent to cover all the stalls for the benefit of thousands of people participating in the four-day farm fair,” he said.

There will be stalls on farm inputs, nursery, farm publications, irrigation and agricultural equipment, farm implements, heavy implements, use of plastics in agriculture, seed units and others, he said.

The prime attractions of the four-day Krishi Mela will be traditional varieties and soil and water conservation; technologies for food security; importance of traditional varieties and their conservation; eco-friendly, natural, organic farming for sustainability; seed mela; farm advisory services by experts and agri start-ups; integrated crop, nutrient, pest and disaster management and others.

“The Krishi Mela will begin with a seminar on Significance of Traditional varieties and their conservation. On the second day of the event, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will inaugurate the seed mela. On the third day, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will formally inaugurate Krishi Mela and honour progressive farmers chosen for the annual farm awards,” Prof. Patil said.

He said that on all the four days of the event, special training programmes will be organised at 2.30 p.m. every day on production technologies to increase sugarcane yield, farm mechanisation, advanced livestock management and hi-tec horticulture technologies, followed by cultural programmes by students of different farm universities.

Director (Extension) M.V. Manjunatha, Director (Research) B.D. Biradar and management board members were present.