The three-day annual Krishi Mela organised by the University of Agriculture Sciences (UAS), Raichur at the Agriculture Research Station (ARS) in the outskirts of Kalaburagi would be held from December 19.
Dean of Agriculture College P.S. Dharmaraj and Project Director D.M. Mannur told presspersons in Kalaburagi on Monday that besides exhibiting recent advances made in agriculture and mechanisation of agricultural operations, the farmers would get a chance to have a glimpse of the new Red Gram Variety GRG 811 which will be released for commercial production this year and the new Bengal Gram variety GBM-2 which is awaiting the state government’s permission for commercial production.
Prof. Dharamaraj said that farmers visiting the Krishi Mela would be taken on a tour to tell them how the different varieties of Red Gram, Bengal gram, Green Gram and Black Gram and Jowar are cultivated. The plots where only organic fertilisers and pesticides will be used in cultivation, will be demonstrated to the farmers.
He said that during their field visit, the farmers will be exposed to advanced machinery that would help them in bringing down the cost of cultivation and dependence on agricultural labourers.
Prof. Dharamaraj said although the Krishi Mela would begin on December 19, the Mela would be formally inaugurated by the Municipal Administration and Waqf Minister, Qamarul Islam, on December 20 at the ARS.
Besides the recent advances in agriculture practices, other departments including Sericulture, Floriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry would put up their stalls to highlight the latest advances made in their respective fields.
Prof. Dharamaraj said that one of the features of this year’s Krishi Mela was the stalls put up by different agencies for the use of the alternative renewable energy, particularly solar energy, for agriculture operations and optimising production. Every day a 2-1/2 hour session would be held in the afternoon in which the progressive farmers would share their experience and success formula with other farmers in the programme called “Raitharinda Raitharige”.
After a gap of two years, Dr. Mannur said, the Krishi Mela will also host a dog show where dogs and puppies will be available for sale.
