Mangalore, Mar 9: Veggies, flowers and bees all came under one roof at the two-day floriculture, horticulture and apiculture (bee keeping) exhibition held at Kadri Park.
'Madhu Mela' an exhibition on apiculture (rearing of bees) was held for the first time in Mangalore. It was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner N Prakash.
Carvings of designs and figures made from vegetables were crowd-pullers at the exhibition. Stalls featuring horticultural products, farming equipment, products and handicrafts made by artisans and self-help groups, equipment to start gardens and other rural derivatives such as seeds and herbal products were frequented by agriculturists and curious onlookers at the exhibition. For those with a green thumb, there were also stalls selling equipment to grow ornamental plants such as Anthurium and exotic orchids at homes.
The flower exhibition was inaugurated by chairman of Alva's Educaiton Foundation Dr M Mohan Alva, and the horticulture exhibition by MCC Commissioner Dr K Harish Kumar.
Speaking after inaugurating the exhibition on Saturday, Dr Alva said that our existence was interconnected with nature and its survival meant the survival of man. “We have known the importance of fruits and vegetables and how beneficial they are to us. Fruits are an integral part of our lives, while flowers also have a special place in our culture. It is essential that we protect our earth and nature and conserve it. The intention of such an exhibition is to create awareness about the environment and encourage love and respect towards nature and all its creations, without harming or destroying it,” he said
Speaking on innovative methods of farming, he said that science and technology had brought huge advancement in the field of horticulture. He said that although he did not discourage the cultivation of genetically-altered vegetables, great caution should be observed before consuming them, as it could have adverse effects on our health.
Speaking on the occasion, vice-president of Siri Horticultural Association Lakshmi Rao Aroor said that farmers were the backbone who supplied food to the people of the nation. Hence, they have to be supported and aided with proper facilities, she said and encouraged women to cultivate fruits and vegetables at homes through terrace gardening.
Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayat Dr K N Vijayaprakash presided over the programme and said that attempts were being made by the administration and the horticulture department to set up Integrated Horti-clinics to provide more information on plants and fruits.An initiative to encourage terrace gardening has been launched, he informed.
Joint secretary of Siri Horticulture Association K Nemiraj Konde, Sharada Achar, Vijayalakshmi Rao, Judith Mascarenhas, Shashi V Shetty and others were present.
The exhibition was jointly organised by Dakshina Kannada Department of Horticulture, DK Zilla Panchayat, DK district administration and Siri Horticulture Association.
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