The Hindu Business Line : 2-day Kissan Mela at Udupi begins tomorrow

SRI KSHETHRA Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) will organise the 26th annual Kissan Mela at Koteshwar in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district from January 6 to 8.

A press release by the SKDRDP Executive Director, Dr L.H. Manjunath, said on Wednesday that the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, Mr M.P. Prakash, would inaugurate the mela on January 6. Mr Kantha Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director of Syndicate Bank, will inaugurate the exhibition at the mela.

Mr Rajendra Singh of Rajasthan will deliver the keynote address. Dr D. Veerendra Heggade, SKDRDP Chairman, will preside over the function.

The release said the mela is intended to build confidence among farmers. The three-day event will have different workshops and agricultural exhibition.

Panel discussion on subjects such as water conservation, mixed farming, dairy farming, fund management in self-help groups, dry farming, women empowerment, women self-employment and future farming will be held during the mela.

The mela, which is likely to attract more than one lakh visitors, has more than 200 exhibition stalls, the release added.

SKDRDP - which promotes agriculture, transfer of technology, promotion of hybrid crops, eco-farming and non-farm sector activities - has been conducting kissan melas as a part of the agricultural extension activities being taken up by it.