The 100th All-India Farmers’ Fair and Agro-Industrial Exhibition-Kisan Mela of the GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) will be inaugurated by the State Governor and chancellor of the university, Krishan Kant Paul at Pantnagar on October 17 (Monday).
According to the university officials, the Governor is slated to cut the ribbon to inaugurate the 100th Kisan Mela on Gandhi Maidan at about 11 am. The Governor will view the exhibition after which the main inaugural function will be held in the Gandhi Hall with the governor slated to address farmers and others on the occasion.
According to information provided by the university officials, the Kisan Mela will be held from October 17 to 20 and the exhibits therein will also include the major Rabi crops cultivated by various centres of GBPUAT with produce including wheat, pea, sweet pea, Masoor, mustard seeds, seasonal vegetables, fruits and flowers along with seeds and saplings.
In addition to these, sale of seeds on offer by various national and internationally recognized private companies and corporations will also be sold in this fair for which the quality check measures will be ascertained by the university administration.
Visiting farmers will also be offered books published in Hindi by the university with a special 40 per cent to 60 per cent discount on the occasion. According to the university officials, the major attractions of the programme on October 17-18 will also include exhibition and competitions based on fruits, flowers, vegetables and preserved items.
Other activities including the sale, auction, exhibition and competitive events involving cattle will be held during October 18 and 19.
Scientists and experts will speak on various pertinent topics as part of a special lecture series for farmers to be held on the first three days of the fair cum exhibition from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm in the Gandhi Hall. Similarly, the first three days of the programme will also include Kisan Goshthi from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm in the same hall to enable the farmers to seek expert advice on the spot for the various problems and issues they raise.
Cultural programmes are also slated to be held on the first three nights of the event for the “entertainment of farmers”. The event is slated to be concluded on October 20 in the afternoon with the presentation of prizes to winners in various categories of competitive events and exhibition held during the programme.
It is pertinent to mention here that the GBPUAT states that its Directorate of Extension Education organises All India Farmers' Fair and Agro-Industrial Exhibition twice in a year mainly to benefit farming community.