Annual Krishi Mela held at Brahmavar

Udupi: Raghupati Bhat, Udupi-Chikmaglur MLA, announced his plans of setting up an agricultural college in the Dakshina Kannada region on the occasion of the annual ‘Krishi Mela’ conducted by the Zonal Agricultural Research Center (ZARS) at Brahmavar on Oct 11th and 12th.

Speaking after inaugurating the Mela, Raghupati Bhat said, “Dakshina Kannada has a fisheries college but no agriculture college, which should be brought to Udupi district to work as a support to the fisheries college. Having both a fishery and an agriculture college in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district would be very beneficial to scholars.”

Raghupati Bhat also expressed concern over farmers migrating to urban areas due to unavailability of farm lands, and stressed the need for optimal utilization of the 350 acres of land Bramhavar holds, and better farming methods to ensure higher crop production. He also expressed his distress over the UPA Government’s decision of converting farms that yield three crops per annum into Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for commercial profits, in spite of directives issued by the Commerce Ministry against such an act.

Models of various agricultural tools and techniques were on demonstration at the Krishi Mela, including the Jalanayana watershed, multi- storied cropping system, vermin compost, rain water harvesting and the like.

Sub-edited by: Karmanya Ahuja