Arecanut Research Development Foundation (ARDF) has organised a three-day Adike Yantra Mela 2009 that will begin on October 30 on the premises of Vivekananda College of Engineering in Puttur.
Manufacturers from Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu will display a range of machinery under one roof for the benefit of arecanut cultivators of the region. According to a press release from ADRF, the mela will showcase machines that de-husk tender arecanut and ripe arecanut and a variety of sprayers that are needed to prevent diseases to arecanut.
Executive Officer of ARDF P. Shyam Bhat said that 30 companies, mostly producing arecanut de-husking machines, had shown interest in showcasing their products. Over 35 stalls would be set up to display machinery and provide information to farmers. He said that there were machines that could peel arecanut husk at the rate of one quintal an hour and it costs anywhere between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 1.5 lakh.
Mr. Bhat, who is also the General Manager of Centre for Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Cooperative Limited (CAMPCO) said farmers were not aware of the technological advancements which could reduce their dependence on labour. The exhibition would educate them on these lines. Interactions between manufacturers and growers will also be organised during the mela, he added.
Individuals, who are interested to showcase their products, may contact Mr. Bhat on phone no: 94481-22272 or 0824-2445606.
It may be noted here that white variety or ‘chali’ arecanut is mainly grown in Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts of Karnataka, the red variety of arecanut is mainly grown in Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Uttara Kannada, Chitradurga, and Tumkur districts.
