Date:18/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/18/stories/2006111800630500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Diverse world of grain, cereals, vegetables and livestock

Special Correspondent

Krishimela 2006 opens in Bangalore

DUCK DELIGHT: Union Minister of State for Road Transport K.H. Muniyappa (left) at Krishimela 2006 in Bangalore. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: Visitors at the Krishimela 2006 and National Agricultural Machinery Exhibition at Gandhi Krishi Vidya Kendra could be forgiven if they thought they had wandered into a jewellery exhibition. There were strings of dramatically coloured unorthodox shapes. A close examination revealed they were beetles... beautiful creatures but a farmer's bane.

The Department of Entomology of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) had a section on insects in all their diversity, from dung beetles to water-skaters to beautiful moths whose larvae are many a farmer's ruin.

Diversity was evident in vegetables, cereals and grain too. From organic carrots and greens to perfectly proportioned red peppers, bitter-gourd and okra (from a company from the Netherlands), brilliantly coloured flowering plants from horticulture farmers, sunflowers the size of small cushions and aquarium fish. The UAS itself is experimenting with organic farming at its station in Naganahalli near Mysore, harvesting coconuts and rice. One intriguing produce from it was seedless mushroom.

Agricultural implements came in all sizes and shapes, and a gadget to shell groundnuts caught the eye. There were 350 stalls at the exhibition that aims at bridging the gap between farmers and scientists.

Mudda Reddy, a farmer from Kolar who came with his relative Marappa Reddy, said: "We come to these shows to ensure that what we practice at home keeps up with the scientific development." There were poultry and livestock too: from quails, bantams, ducks and turkeys to bulls, buffaloes, sheep and Yorkshire pigs.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa inaugurated the exhibition. Union Minister of State for Road Transport K.H. Muniyappa went around the show.