Date:15/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/15/stories/2008111554420400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Record turnout at Krishi Mela

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The four-day Krishi Mela, which commenced on Thursday, has created a record of sorts in terms of number of visitors.

The event, which is an effort to introduce new crop varieties and farm techniques to farmers, has become a mega crowd puller. While 70,000 people visited the mela on the first day on Thursday, the number of visitors touched a record one lakh on Friday. Of the one lakh visitors, about 70,000 were farmers while the remaining were general visitors.

The university had earlier estimated the number of visitors throughout the mela to be around three lakh. However, now there are indications of the crowd turnout touching 3.5 lakh. In fact, more than 8,000 school children alone visited the mela on Friday.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa will present best farm-men and farm-women awards on Saturday to 34 innovative farmers from 17 districts coming under the jurisdiction of the university.

Two dog shows are also being arranged at the mela on Saturday.

While one show will be by the police dog squad, the other will be a general show of pet dogs.