The four-day 106th Kisan Mela concluded at GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) here with prize distribution on Monday.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, progressive farmer from Nainital district, Narendra Singh Mehra recalled that the GBPUAT had played a vital role in the green revolution during the 70s.
By starting a new trend of according platform to farmers in the Kisan Mela, the university had turned this into a fully farmer-centric event.
He said the increased use of chemicals to boost foodgrain production had turned the soil toxic which now needs to be restored with swift steps towards organic farming.
He opined that India is going to experience a farmers’ revolution as the youth are also getting involved in agriculture and taking pride in it.
The university’s vice chancellor Tej Pratap said that the four-day event had succeeded in facilitating proactive interaction between scientists and farmers.
In this era, major changes are expected in agriculture between 2020 and 2030 and farmers can achieve major gains by adopting these.
The policy makers now had added humanity to agriculture and now are talking of farmers instead of farming. He exhorted the scientists to think 10-15 years ahead and keep the farmers and area in mind while making future plans. GBPUAT director of extension education PN Singh informed about the activities held during the four-day Kisan Mela. He said that seeds amounting to about Rs two crore including seeds worth Rs 88 lakh of the university were sold during the event. About 25,000 registered and unregistered farmers visited the Kisan Mela which had a total of 395 stalls set up by various firms, universities and Government organisations.