The two-day Organic and Millet Mela started on Saturday gave a clear message that to lead a healthy life, people should consume more millets and organically grown food.
The mela, which is being organised for the first time at S.S. High School Grounds in Vijayapura by the Department of Agriculture, is aimed at popularising millets and organic food instead of agriculture commodities cultivated using chemical fertilizers.
Focussing primarily on millets which was one of the staple diets a couple of decades ago mainly in the North Karnataka region, the organisers believe that people must go back to the old food habit for better health.
Several agriculture experts who attended the event said that post-green revolution, commodities such as wheat and paddy were extensively grown to meet the growing demand for food.
In the process, traditional cropping pattern and dietary habits were both affected as farmers began cultivating wheat and paddy more than millets.
However, experts say that to retain good food habits, people must consume millets such as bajra and foxtail millet which have higher quantity of proteins than rice and wheat.
Shivakumar, Joint Director of the Agriculture Department, who was present, said that millets are best suited to North Karnataka region where a large agriculture area is dependent on rain in the absence of irrigation facility.
Malleshappa Kalyanshetty, an organic farmer from Indi taluk, said that for the last 15 years, he has been cultivating different millets and other commodities only using organic manure in his 10-acre land.
Stating that consuming foxtail millet helped him get relief from joint pain, he said that he wants people also to avail themselves of this benefit.
Stating that he does not sell this product to any shop, he said that he delivers his produce to houses, based on orders he receive.
Another organic farmer Ramanand Kannur said that he cultivates organic vegetables. Like Mr. Kalyanshetty, he too delivers 17 different vegetables at a cost of ₹ 450 for each bag. These vegetables could last a week for a family of four.
