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Over 5-feet long gourd, cabbage weighing 10 kg, medicinal properties rich white brinjal and pint-sized summer squash. These were some of the unique farm crops on display at the three-day-long ‘Krishi Mela’ (Agricultural Fair) ending today.
Private farmers, different offices of IARI (Indian Agriculture Research Institute) across the country and companies engaged in the making of agri equipment are showcasing their rich items at over 200 stalls.
“Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela” has been organised by IARI.
Demonstrating his 5-feet 6-inches long gourd, Kapoor Singh Grewal, a farmer from Jhajhar in Haryana, said he used cowdung fertiliser and pure water to grow the produce in his field. “I took care of the produce like my child for nearly five months to get this big-sized long gourd,” Grewal told PTI.
The normal size of long gourd varies from 1-1.5 feet. Though Grewal’s stall is located on the rear side of the fair, a long queue of curious visitors could be seen throughout the day there.
Another item which is attracting the attention of visitors is a hefty cabbage named “Pusa Drum Head”, weighing around 10 kg. The normal cabbage weighs about 500-700 grams.
The seed of the produce has been developed by IARI, Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, Mr Pritam Kalia, Agriculture Department Head-IARI, said.
IARI, Pusa has also developed a new variety of white brinjal which has medicinal qualities. Another matchless type of vegetable is pint-sized summer squash.
Yellow in colour, the summer squash weighs around 200 grams, against the normal weight of this veggie ranging from 2-3 kg, an official at the IARI Pusa Delhi stall said.
“We have put our new varieties of produce including cabbage, white brinjal and summer squash in the field located by the side of the mela ground for farmers to have a look at them from their own eyes,” Mr Kalia said.
He said the trial was on for the cultivation of some foreign variety vegetables like Chinese Cabbage and Swiss Chards in our own climate. “After successful field trial, seeds of these veggies will be made available to the farmers,” he added.
Protein rich ‘Roasted Soya’, another item developed by the IARI Pusa, is drawing crowds towards it.
“The aim of the fair is to provide latest information about cultivation of these veggies and cheap farm equipment to the farmers to enhance their earnings,” Mr J.P.S. Dadas, Senior Scientist, IARI, PUSA, said.
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