From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 5: A four-day “Udyana Mela’’ (Garden Fair) is being hosted by the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalakote at Bagalakote from December 12.

"Mechanisation for Prosperity" is the theme of the four-day mela with the objective of educating horticultural famers on the advantages of mechanisation.

The University of Horticultural Sciencies is organising the fair in association with the National Horticultural Board, National Horticultural Mission, Karnataka Farmers’ Resource Centre, Karnataka Pradesh Krishik Samaj and Indian Council for Agricultural Research in an attempt to guide farmers.

Farmers, scientists, students, distributors of agricultural appliances, industrialists, and self-help groups from 23 districts will take part, according to University Vice Chancellor D L Mahaeshwar.

The mela will be useful particularly to farmers from the old Mysore region, who are growing horticultural crops such as pomegranate and grapes.

A cattle fair and a apiculture and wine fair will also be held, he said.

Karnataka’s Horticulture Minister Shyamanur Shivashankarappa, who spoke to repporters on Friday, said growers of Srinivaspura taluk in Kolar district are being trained in management of mango farms, including plucking of fruit by scientists from the University of Horticultural Sciences (UHS), Bagalakote in order to boost mango yield and its export.

"During the last few months, we have been giving training for about 150 mango growers to create awareness about management of mango farms. Lack of knowledge about farming was a major bottleneck in both yield and export of mango" he said.

Training need to be given to farmers as mango fruits are plucked before they ripen. They are then artificially ripened using calcium carbide to impart colour without quality and taste.