O P Agnihotri, Pantnagar
Preparations for the 118th All India Farmers’ Fair and Agro- Industrial Exhibition, known as ‘Krishi Kumbh’- slated at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) from October 10 to 13- have been completed. Stating this, the university’s
vice- chancellor, Manmohan Singh Chauhan said that this year, over 200 institutions have registered to set up stalls with many more still applying. “Farmers, scientists, industrialists and agricultural entrepreneurs from across India, particularly from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Punjab and southern States aside from Uttarakhand, will participate in the fair,” he added.
He further said that a major attraction of this year’s fair would be an exhibition dedicated to millets. “Farmers will be encouraged to cultivate millets using scientific methods. Farmers will be taught new techniques related to millet production, processing and marketing,” he said and stressed that the university’s objective is to encourage farmers to pursue millet cultivation alongside traditional farming so as to ensure that the farmers’ income increase.
He informed that scientific testing and demonstrations of major Kharif crops – paddy, maize, pigeon pea, green gram, black gram, soybean and vegetables – would be displayed at the fair. “Certified and basic seeds of high-yielding varieties of Rabi crops – wheat, gram, peas, barley, lentils, rapeseed, mustard and vegetables – will be available for sale. Fruit, vegetable, forestry, aromatic and flower saplings will be on sale, too,” he declared.
According to the VC, the fair will be inaugurated by Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh, who is also the chancellor of the university, while the former Union Minister Ajay Bhatt along MLAs from the region will also attend the event.
Further, exhibition and competition of fruits, flowers, vegetables and preserved items will be organised on October 10 and 11 while auction of hybrid calves will be held on October 11, starting at 2 PM. Exhibition involving the Instructional Dairy Farm and fish production exhibition and competition will start at 3 PM on October 11 and the farmer-scientist dialogue/farmer seminar will be held from 3 PM at Gandhi Hall on October 10-12. The closing and prize distribution ceremony will be held at Gandhi Hall on October 13.
The VC further said that the participating farmers would be given special discounts on the purchase of agricultural literature published by the university.
“This fair will serve as an excellent platform for the exchange of knowledge, technology and innovation between farmers and scientists. Keeping in view the motto of ‘Science in Farming, Happy Farmers,’ the university has been continuously working towards ensuring farmers’ prosperity,” he affirmed.
