Urban Krishi Mela starting Sunday to tell urbanites how to use vacant plots to cultivate crops.
To encourage people in cities to cultivate horticultural crops in their houses, the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) is organising a two-day Urban Krishi Mela, starting on October 27.
The event aims to create awareness among urbanites on how to use their vacant plots for the betterment of their health, while simultaneously working towards building a conscientious urban community.
More than a lakh visitors are expected to take part in the Urban Krishi Mela, which is said to be the first of its kind in the country.
To popularise the concept of organic gardening among high school and college students, students taking part in the exhibition will be offered stalls where they can exhibit their plants and other projects at concessional rates.
“We are not only offering stalls at concessional rates for students, but have also decided to give prizes for the best plants and projects prepared by them,’’ said BN Satyanarayana, professor and head, department of horticulture, UAS, and also the organising secretary of the mela.
According to the organisers, housing skyscrapers and rocketing consumerism have resulted in producers and suppliers, especially of foods, to indulge in unacceptable practices. Food, therefore, has turned poisonous, rattling the psyche of educated and conscientious individuals.
“Many vegetables, though they look good, are unfit for consumption owing to the environment where they are grown and the pollution at the markets. Now, people are becoming health conscious and are coming forward to grow vegetables on their own,” said C Vasudevappa, dean (PGS) and convener, Golden Jubilee celebrations committee of UAS.
Padma Kesari, who converted her residential site at Sahakaranagar into a garden, considers Urban Krishi Mela as the right platform to showcase and promote organic gardening. “As of now, I am growing vegetables such as lady’s finger, brinjal, green chilies and greens,’’ she said.
Seminar on organic roof-top gardening
A national seminar on urban horticulture and organic roof top gardening will also be held on the occasion. Participants will showcase their plants and projects in about 100 stalls at the exhibition.
“Visitors can purchase poly-trays. Each one will have 50 plants, including greens, saplings of pod vegetables and fruit vegetables. We want to sell each poly-tray for just Rs100. Our intention is not to generate revenue, but to popularise the concept of organic roof-top gardening in the city,’’ said Satyanarayana.
Those who wish to visit the Urban Krishi Mela can avail of free bus facility from the entrance of the UAS (near GKVK bus stop) to the venue of Urban Krishi Mela.
“Over 40 scientists will be present at the exhibition venue to provide information on issues such as roof-top gardening, vermicomposting, how to use kitchen waste water for gardening and how to convert kitchen waste into manure and use it for roof-top gardening,’’ he said.
What’s in store?
Roof top gardening
Vertical gardening
Community gardening
Kitchen gardening
Micro irrigation and water saving devices
Apiculture
Mushroom cultivation
Citizen innovation
Rain water harvesting
Soil-less culture
Low cost green houses
Do it yourself
Organic inputs
Setting up of plant nursery on roof tops
Structural (building) components suiting roop top gardens
Composting, urban waste management
Innovative models competition for schools and colleges
For more information, visit: www.urbankrishimela.in
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