Day 1 of Krishi Mela filled with excitement;move to champion millets

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Around 1500 people, mostly agricultural enthusiasts, visited the stalls set for Krishi Mela in the premises of University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Gandhi Kisan Vignana Kendra on Friday.

The Mela, which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister Siddaramiah along with Agriculture Minister Chaluvarya Swamy is themed, 'Millets for Food, Health, and Income.'

This Mela also falls in the International Year of Millets. As people from various walks of life and parts of the city came in excitement to have a look at what's on the menu, The millet stalls saw the most crowd.

"We have seen a lot of people show keen interest in getting their hands in our products," said Abbuseth, from the Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR). Abbuseth explained how Major and Minor millets are drought resistant and do not need much care in growing.

"Major millets like Jowar, Bajra and ragi, and Minor Millets like Kodo, Barnyard and Proso can be grown on infertile land," he said.

Their growth is vigorous, and the demand for millets has risen in the market.

"Millets go for a minimum price of 100," he added.The three day long jointly conducted by the UAS and the state departments of Agriculture,Horticulture, Silk, Forest, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Women and Child Welfare also displayed Exotic poultry, world class machinery and mouth watering food. One that caught attention amongst the crowd was Bengaluru's own Long eared goat.