A three-day organic food mela got under way in the city under the auspices of Sattva Ahara and the Institute for Cultural Research and Action (ICRA) on Friday.
The event drives to connect the farmers with consumers “fairly and organically” and ensure greater interface.
The Sattva Ahara organisation stemmed from a collaborative effort involving over 3,000 small farmers who undertake agriculture under rain-fed conditions in Mysuru-Chamarajanagar and Ballari region under ICRA’s guidance. According to organisers of the mela, the farmers have been cultivating a variety of crops organically as a result of which the soil has regained fertility and is able to yield a rich harvest even under harsh climatic.
As the crops are cultivated devoid of chemicals or artificial fertilizers, the products taste and smell original and the farmers are now reaching out to consumers for better synergy, the organisers said.
A wide array of items such as rice, honey, dry fruits, oil, jaggery, and grains are available at the ‘Savayava Sattva Ahara’ mela at an affordable price. Theatre personality Prasanna, who inaugurated the mela, said the philosophy behind organic agriculture should be inculcated in daily life failing which switching to organic food and its acceptance will be merely symbolic. He cautioned against merely adopting symbolism while remaining bereft of the underlying philosophy of being environment-friendly.
Mr. Prasanna said human civilisation was on a downhill slide towards catastrophe due to intervention with nature. The reckless exploitation of natural resources had heralded climate change with its cascading impact on agriculture and all forms of life.
It was imperative to revert to a simple life devoid of mechanical contraptions. But this entailed hard work and not many were prepared to adhere to it, he said.
Venue
The mela is being held at the Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry on Vinobha Road from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. till Sunday.
