BANGALORE: Bangalore is ideally suited to grow wine grapes and, along with Mysore and Kolar, it can become the best place for growing the very popular Flame and Sharad varieties of seedless grapes, said S.D. Shikhamany, Director, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research.

At the two-day `Bhagwani Kisan Mela' to be organised on the institute campus at Hesaraghatta on March 3 and 4, this will be among the many ideas, technologies and resources that will be dispensed to farmers and others in the horticulture sector, Dr. Shikhamany told presspersons here on Wednesday.

The institute has been focussing on increasing the productivity of horticultural crops, particularly in adverse conditions, since it was founded in 1967. Product diversification and value addition, enhancing nutritive value, increasing food and environmental safety, export promotion and import restriction, and technology transfer are some of its other focus areas.

Dr. Shikhamany said over 5,000 farmers from all over the country are expected to participate in the mela. The 600-acre farm will also showcase diverse collections of early-bearing jackfruit, varieties of pomelo (grapefruit or chakotha) and minor fruits. Farmers will also see the high-density planting of mango and drip irrigation and `fertigation' of fruit and vegetables.

Integrated pest management, integrated nutrient management, agricultural technology information, technologies and innovations like the mango and garlic peeler, harvesters, hot water treatment for post-harvest disinfestation and disinfection of mangoes will also be on display.

A special feature will be the farmer-scientist and farmer-farmer interaction, with the focus on marketing management, Dr. Shikhamany added.

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