Shivamogga: The four-day Krishi-Thotagarike Mela, an agricultural and horticultural exhibition, began with gaiety at the Agricultural College in Navile village at Shivamogga on Friday. The event was organized by the Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences. Mallikarjun Murugharajendra Swamy of Murugha Mutt inaugurated the event in the presence of experts in horticulture and other dignitaries.
The exhibition has brought together around 250 stalls featuring agri-based companies, institutions, government departments, and non-governmental organizations. These stalls offer a variety of information, showcasing advancements in the cultivation of crops like areca, black pepper, paddy, banana, and ragi. Farmers visiting the mela had the chance to interact with experts, gaining insights into new technologies designed to improve production and add value to their products.
A highlight of the mela is the display from the College of Horticulture at Mudigere, which presented value-added products made from jackfruit, including jackfruit biscuits and holige (a sweet flatbread). The researchers have offered to share their technology with farmers interested in commercial production.
The Areca Research Center of the university showcased 14 varieties of areca and 20 varieties of black pepper, along with a model areca farm and processing unit. Educational posters provided farmers with guidance on tackling diseases in areca farms.
The event proved fruitful, especially for the farmers who came from across the region. This Krishi Mela serves as a launching pad for the farmers’ community to learn and get knowledge of modern techniques in horticulture to increase the yield as well as their income.
