The University of Agricultural Sciences-Bengaluru’s famed Krishi mela will be held from November 19 to 22. This year, UAS-B has decided to use this platform to create awareness about ways to tackle drought.
The university has chosen drought and integrated farming systems as the theme this year.
“The main intention is to provide relevant technologies and inputs for farmers to survive during drought,” UAS-B Vice-Chancellor H. Shivanna told The Hindu .
According to him, the mela will showcase water conservation techniques and dryland farming technologies. Similarly, the integrated farming system will include animal, horticulture, fish, poultry, and other components to improve the income of farmers. Following the overwhelming response to urban horticulture in the earlier krishi melas, the university has decided to focus on urban horticulture this year also. There will be a separate pavilion, which will showcase various aspects and technologies related to urban horticulture, UAS-B senior information specialist L. Ramakrisha Rao said.
The krishi mela will continue to have regular features like live crop demonstrations, national exhibition on farm mechanisation and organic farming, besides consultation with agricultural experts. According to Mr. Rao, the event will have 600 stalls related to agriculture and allied sectors.
The mela has become popular in the last few years, with a large number of farmers and urbanites thronging them. Around 11 lakh people visited the mela in 2011 and over 20 lakh visited in 2013.
