Daijiworld News Network - Kundapur (VM)
Kundapur, Jan 9: Krishi Mela organised by the Dharmasthala Village Development Project (DVDP) at Koteshwar has created history. With over 1,00,000 participants the at the event, the noteable part was that the farmers were given the recognition they deserve. The DVDP had been successful in its effort to instill confidence among the small farmers, who are worried about the fact that their voices are not heard.
In the symposia presented by the various departments, paucity of knowledge about the agriculture sector was glaring and farmers commented that the officials should have utilised the Krishi Mela to meet the small farmers to know about their problems first hand.
More than 50,000 women belonging to farmers' families participated in the three-day Krishi Mela. The symposium on women, the power behind success, chaired by Hemavathi V Heggade at the Krishi Mela inspired women.
Demonstration and information programme arranged by the departments of Horticulture, Agriculture and Forest, information provided on utilisation of solar power, loans schemes of nationalised banks, impressive performance of the Koraga Self-Help Groups, Siri products, information on the river linking project, cattle exhibition, dog show, cultural programmes and other demonstrations that presented unique achievements of farmers added to the charisma of the Krishi Mela and inspired the farmers to be self-reliant.
Fisheries expert S M Shivaprakash explained that the fish has a history of over 50 crore years and there are over 25,000 species of fish. Speaking at the symposium on fresh water and salt water fishing at the Krishi Mela on Sunday, he said that there are 2,200 varieties of fish in India and stressed on the need to conserve and develop fish species, which is a natural resource. Brahmavar Agricultural Research Station scientist Dr M Hanumanthappa explained that consuming fish increases the power of the brain and reduces risks of heart diseases and cancer. Pisciculture can also act as a composite agriculture along with poultry and dairying, he explained. Fisheries College, Mangalore professor Venkatappa dealt with fresh water pisciculture of prawns.
It may be noted that instead of being a voice of farmers, the Krishi Mela was essentially a fair of the farmers. Farmers from Udupi, Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada districts clocked the mela and most of them were engrossed in witnessing the exhibition. Krishi Mela succeeded in attracting more people than the annual car festival, Kodi Habba and got permanently etched in the cultural history of the place.