2-day ‘Kisan Mela’ & Agro-Industrial Exhibition begins at U’chal University
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 19 Mar: A two-day ‘Kisan Mela’ and Agro-Industrial Exhibition was inaugurated today in the Uttaranchal University campus, held under the joint aegis of the University’s School of Agriculture and the Atal Community Innovation Centre. The theme of the fair was ‘Viksit Krishi, Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
State Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ganesh Joshi was the Chief Guest, while the ceremony was presided over by the University’s Chairman, Jitendra Joshi. Farmers from various districts, agricultural scientists, subject matter experts, and students participated in the event. More than 100 institutions representing various state government departments, banks, and agricultural companies set up stalls at the fair. Information regarding advanced seeds, soil testing, organic farming, animal husbandry, horticulture, agricultural machinery, and food processing was showcased.
On this occasion, ‘Soil Health Cards’ were also released. A ‘Kisan Goshti’ was organised in which farmers and researchers participated enthusiastically. Furthermore, five progressive farmers Ankit (Village Ramnagar Danda), Mamta Bhatt (Village Nahad), Vinita (Village Dharkot), Narayan Singh (Village Hayou), and Kanta Devi (Village Bisoi) were felicitated during the event.
In his address, Minister Joshi stated that, if the farmer is strong, the nation is strong. Since the formation of the state, the agricultural land area in the region has decreased by 210,000 hectares, while agricultural production has increased by 300,000 tonnes. The districts of Tehri and Rudraprayag have fully transitioned to organic farming, while organic farming is currently being practiced on 34 percent of the land across the state. The government has set a target to increase organic farming coverage to 50 percent by the year 2030. He added that the state government is actively promoting modern technology, organic farming, the production of coarse cereals (millets), and protected cultivation. He emphasised boosting farmers’ incomes through the utilisation of drone technology, soil health testing, digital advisory services, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, and Farmer Producer Organisations. Furthermore, he called upon universities to steer agriculture in a new direction through research and innovation. He cited the farmers’ fair and exhibition organised by Uttaranchal University as an exemplary model.
Jitendra Joshi, an educationist who is also one of the state’s prominent horticulturists, stated that the scope of modern farming has expanded significantly. In the context of Uttarakhand, high-quality apple varieties, off-season vegetables, and medicinal herbs now constitute key cash crops. Alongside these, farmers in Uttarakhand can also enhance their earnings through the production of organic goods. He encouraged farmers to focus on cultivating cash crops.
The event was also addressed by the University’s Vice President, Ankita Joshi; Vice-Chancellor Prof Dharam Buddhi; Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Rajesh Bahuguna; and the Director of the School of Agriculture, Dr Sharad Pandey.
The event witnessed the presence of a large number of farmers and students, including notable figures such as Padma Shri awardee Premchand Sharma, the “Loki Man” Dr SP Singh, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Prof Rajesh Singh, Prof Anita Gehlot, Dr Rajat Singh, Dr Sandeep Kumar, Mansi Nautiyal, Jayanti Ballabh Bhatt, and Raja Joshi.
