Mangaluru: With people realising the benefits of going ‘organic’, the Department of Agriculture hosted ‘Organic Mela’, with the aim of encouraging organic food culture among the people by giving them a chance to purchase organic products.

The mela was inaugurated by Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel at Kadri Park on Tuesday, May 31.

Addressing the gathering Kateel said that there is a need to spread awareness on organic farming techniques.

“Though the district has always been a land where organic farming has been followed since time immemorial, productivity, profit factors and advent of chemical fertilisers have compelled the farmers to switch over,” he said adding that farmers must try and switch back to organic farming keeping the well-being of the land and its fertility factor in mind. He said that as DK district is breaking out of the mould of being an agrarian district, there is immense need to popularise organic farming through various schemes.

Department of Agriculture Joint Director Dr H Kempegowda said that the Mela will serve as an interface between the organic growers and purchasers.

ZP President, Meenakshi Shanthigoaud, Vice president, Kasturi Panja, DK Zilla Krishika Samaj President S D Sampath Samrajya, Prabhakar Mayya, DC AB Ibrahim, ZP CEO, Shri Vidya and others were present.