Suvarna Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (PS/CN)
Udupi, Oct 20: “Awareness of profitable agricultural methods, preservation of agricultural products, and information about the market system should be made available to farmers. Utilization of modern technical equipment for profitable agriculture is the need of the hour,” opined Udupi MLA K Raghupathi Bhat.
He spoke after inaugurating the ‘Krishi Mela- 2011’ organized by Agriculture University, Bangalore, Zonal Agriculture Research Centre, and Agriculture Science Centre, Brahmavara, husbandry, forest, fisheries departments, and Shree Kshetra Dharmastala Graminabhivruddhi Yojana at Brahmavara Agriculture Research Centre.
“Dearth of labourers, not utilizing modern machines, and lack of knowledge has resulted in the downfall of agriculture activities along the coast, in particular. Youth of the new generation, instead of heading towards foreign countries, should be involved in the farming sector by growing crops on unused land,” suggested Bhat.
MLA Bhat assured that the coming financial year would see the opening of an agriculture college on 350 acres of land available near the Brahmavara Zonal Agriculture Research Centre.
Manipal Bharatiya Vikasa Trust managing trustee K M Udupa said that children at a young age should be taught the importance of agriculture. Bangalore agriculture university vice-chancellor Dr K Narayana Gowda presided.
Udupi ZP president Katapady Shankar Poojary inaugurated the exhibition. MLC Kota Shreenivas Poojary, and Dr S Prabhukumar were present.
Agriculturist Thimmanna Hegde of Elajeeth, Byndoor, spoke at a seminar organized as part of the valedictory ceremony. He said that educational courses on agriculture give only theoretical knowledge while working in the field gives practical knowledge. Hegde said that a farmer is one who should have faith in his work.
Seetharam Shetty, agriculturist from Paladka, asserted that no one is cheated by nature and a paddy crop never causes a farmer to suffer any loss provided all precautions are taken.
About 5,000 people participated in the two-day ‘Krishi Mela’.