Daijiworld Media Network-Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Oct 16: Udupi district in-charge, youth affairs, sports and fisheries minister Pramod Madhwaraj inaugurated two-day ‘Krishi mela-2016’ by lighting the lamp at KVK centre, Brahmavar on Saturday, October 15.
Addressing the gathered, Madhwaraj said, “From ancient time, human beings have been depending on agriculture for food and financial independence. But now agricultural lands are being converted as buildings or apartments for residence. Farmers should must be encouraged.”
“The twin districts Dakshina Kannada and Udupi had green field a few years back. But now farmers are losing hopes and moving towards non- agricultural work. In olden days, farmers never gave up agricultural land at any cost. Now things are changing rapidly.” he added.
“In many places, agricultural land is kept vacant. People have built homes, commercial complexes in the fertile land. Farmers have planted coconut, arecanut trees instead of paddy. Population is increasing every year. Earlier people used to get food at an affordable rate. The food items were also good for health. Now we purchase food items at a whooping cost which often are harmful for health.” he continued.
Stressing further, he said, “The government has to encourage farmers and to fill courage in them. The various concerned departments should think on why agriculture is not profitable. It is not the responsibility of farmers. The government releases crores of funds for the development. So they have to find the way to make it viable. We have all kinds of advanced technology and quality breed seeds and fertilizers. Government should implement these technologies effectively. Farmers have to make use of it.”
Inaugurating the new Krishi mela platform, K M Udupa, managing trustee, Bharatiya Vikas trustee said, “The government should provide a good retention price for agriculture. If it is done, farmers will be ready to face any difficulties. Government should stand by farmers’ interest and build confidence in them.”
Zonal agriculture and horticulture research centre Brahmavar and Krishi vijnana kendra, Brahmavra, organized the programme under the aegis of Agriculture and Horticulture university Shivamogga, and Ullal, Agriculture diploma Maha university, Brahmavar, Cashew and Coco development directorial, Cochin, National Agriculture and Rural development bank, Mangaluru, Sri Kshethra Dharmasthala gramabhivruddi yojana, Udupi, Milk producer, Okkota, Mangaluru, Agricultural department (athma yojana), Udupi Horticulture, silk forest, animal husbandry and fisheries department, Udupi, District farmers society, Udupi and Mangaluru organized two day of Krishi mela 2016.
MK Naik, director of research, agriculture and horticulture university Shivamogga delivered keynote address.
Dr C Vasudevappa, vice chancellor university of Agriculture and Horticulture presided the program and launched website of regional agriculture and horticulture research centre.
Smt Nalini Pradeep Rao, president, taluk panchayat Udupi released the technical hand book.
As many as 150 stake holders and commercial stalls were installed and showed their agriculture technologies to the formers. High yielding rice varieties and seed production, preparation of Dapog nursery and SRI method of paddy cultivation, CO-4 Fobber grass demonstration, multi storied cropping system and nutrient management in coconut and arecanut, cashew grafting and soil and water management in cashew gardens, demonstration of organic manure compost, vermin compost and zolla, dairy, poultry, goat, rabbit, duck and fisheries demo units, exhibition and demonstration of agriculture implements, demonstration of value added food product, exhibition and demonstration of decorative plants, attractive agriculture exhibition were the main attractions of Mela.
Many students from various colleges actively attended the programme. Sheela K Shetty, vice president, zilla panchayat Udupi, M Hanumanthappa, associate director of research ZAHRS Brahmavar welcomed the gathering.