Times of India

Brahmavar (Udupi), Oct 24: The krishi mela and silver jubilee celebrations of the Zonal Agricultural Research Centre at Brahmavar near Udupi got a colourful kick off here on Tuesday.

While the Krishi Mela was inaugurated by S Raju Poojari, ZP president, the exhibition of agricultural products, produce, fertilisers and various agricultural implements were officially inaugurated by former minister V S Acharya.

Poojari in his inaugural address said the Udupi ZP has submitted a Rs 288 crore comprehensive agricultural development project to the Union government. The plan envisages construction of roads, market and other infrastructures for the development of agriculture and allied fields like poultry, dairy development and floriculture in the district.

Poojari observed that farmers of the district lack facilities in specialised technical training and modern farming. “The Brahmavar Research Centre should work on that to ensure expertise reach the farmers to enable them to increase their agricultural produce.”

MLA Jayaprakash Hegde in his presidential address said the lack of popular government in the state hinders all developmental activities. “Though people blame politicians for commission and omission, without political leadership and popular government policy decisions cannot be made. Bureaucrats have their limitations,” he observed.

e said research centres like Brahmavar should give thrust to the locally famous hybrid varieties like Gulvady sanna paddy instead of going for Basmati varieties. “The indigenous variety, if developed, can also get a good international market,” he added.

Sampath Samrajya, board regent of University of Agricultural University, former minister V S Acharya, former MP Vinayakumar Sorake, M N Rajendra Kumar, president of State Apex Co-operative Bank, and Devanand Upadhyaya, GM of Syndicate Bank were present.