“Farm mechanisation will not affect employment generation in villages nor will it reduce opportunities for agricultural labourers. On the contrary, it will improve efficiency and support various agricultural operations,” Prabhakar Kore, MP, said here on Wednesday.
He was speaking to presspersons about the ‘Mega Krishi Mela-2012' being organised here by the Shree Doodhganga Krishna Sahakari Sakkare Karkhane Niyamit at Chikkodi from February 4 to 6.
Mr. Kore said 400 stalls had been booked by industrial and trade organisations for the event, including manufacturers of agricultural equipment and sugarcane harvesting machines . He said there would be seminars and talks by experts on various topics. “The major priorities chalked out for the event will be to showcase in the form of exhibits groundwater recharging, watershed management, hi-tech horticulture, rainwater harvesting, agri-clinics, animal husbandry and fisheries, and home science,” Mr. Kore said.
Mr. Kore said the Government was making systematic efforts to reduce the usage of chemical-based compounds such as fertilizers and urea, which were destroying soil fertility. “Thousands of acres of land in Chikkodi taluk have lost fertility due to salinity. At the same time, there is an urgent need to enhance productivity , which is possible only through scientific farming practices and farm mechanisation,” he said. Mahantesh M. Kavatagimath, MLC, said the Krishi Mela was being organised with the cooperation of the Department of Agriculture.
Mr. Kavatagimath said folk troupes and artistes who participated in the second ‘Vishwa Kannada Sammelana' held here in March 2011, would present programmes during the event. Director of the sugar mill Amit Kore was present.
