Krishi Mela kicks off with focus on agricultural startups

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: State Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on Thursday inaugurated the Krishi Mela at the Gandhi Krishi Vignan Kendra (GKVK) campus in the city. An important event for the state farmers, the mela will focus on agricultural startups with the tagline ‘Krishiyalli Navodhyamagalu’.

The University of Agricultural Sciences – Bengaluru (UAS - B) will be unveiling new varieties of crops, comprising two varieties of crops such as paddy, jowar, avarekai, maize, sesame seeds, castor and niger seeds.

The mela also saw the introduction of 38 new agricultural technologies – usage of drones in the field of farming and aspects relating to soil-less agriculture which is more suitable for urban farming, especially for growing vegetables, among many others. It will also have discussions involving all the stakeholders on matters such as food processing, organic farming and agricultural startups.

This time, 697 stalls are set up, with 178 stalls on agricultural engineering, 80 on agricultural equipment and 53 dedicated to organic farming. Organisers are expecting a footfall of 15-10 lakhs. While their focus will remain on the offline event, certain aspects of the mela will also be held online as the response during the years of the pandemic to the mela held online was promising.

The UAS has also arranged for buses to bring in people from Jakkur to the event. However, the rains over the week have caused a few disruptions in the preparations. There will be no cows, oxen and buffaloes, all the big cattle, due to the rise in lumpy skin disease and the issuing of guidelines against transportation of these cattle by the government.

However, the mela will feature 10 native varieties of chicken, rabbits, sheep, goats and other cattle. The event will conclude on November 6.