Mangaluru: Krishi Mela will be organized at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Regional Station, Vittal on January 10 with a view to empowering the farming community in the region.

D. V. Sadananda Gowda, Union Minister for Law and Justice will to inaugurate the Krishi Mela. Dr. N. K. Krishnakumar, Deputy Director General (Horticulture), ICAR, New Delhi will deliver key note address.

B. Ramanatha Rai, Minister for Environment and Forests, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Member of Parliament, Mangaluru , Konkodi Padmanabha, President, CAMPCO, Mangalore and K. Narasimha Nayak, Vice President, MAMCOS, Shimoga will be the Chief Guests.

The aim is to create awareness on the technological advances in arecanut and cocoa to enhance the profitability of farming. Major events proposed in the Krishi Mela include, scientist- extension- farmer interface, interactive seminar on arecanut based cropping system for enhancing profitability, quiz competition for farmers, farm women and students, exhibition on new technologies and farm innovations by research institutes, KVKs, private entrepreneurs and innovative farmers.

Scientists from CPCRI Kasaragod and Regional Station, Vittal will interact with stakeholders regarding production, protection and processing technologies and developmental programmes on arecanut and cocoa. Special session on containing monkey menace in farms will also be held.

More than 2000 farmers are expected to participate in the Krishi Mela.