About 500 acres of fallow land in DK-Udupi being restored as paddy fields every year, farm varsity VC

Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences Vice-Chancellor R.C. Jagadish on Tuesday said an average of 500 acres of fallow land are being restored as paddy fields in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts every year.

Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences Vice-Chancellor R.C. Jagadish on Tuesday said an average of 500 acres of fallow land are being restored as paddy fields in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts every year.

Speaking after inaugurating the krishi mela and other exhibitions organised as a part of the 30th edition of Alva’s Virasat being organised by Alva’s Education Foundation at Moodbidri, Mr. Jagadish said the university has the latest technology in cashew cultivation and been providing about 3 lakh saplings to farmers every year.

He said the Sahyadri Kempu Mukti and Panchami varieties of paddy were suitable to the coastal region and urged farmers to cultivate them extensively. He reminded the audience that agriculture has been the predominant vocation in the country providing employment to 65% of the population and food to 140 crore people. The contribution of farmers to the country was immense, he said, asking people to remember them every time when they consume food.

Organising programmes like the krishi mela was important at a situation when the youth were staying away from farming, he said. Stating that the food demand had been abut 250 crore tonnes a year in India, the Vice-Chancellor said students need to consume quality food to improve their mental and physical abilities.

Inaugurating the Scouts, Guides, Rovers and Rangers camp, crafts and food festival, Karnataka State Scouts and Guides Chief Commissioner P.G.R Sindhia said the organisation was known for discipline and time management. The encouragement given to Kannada, sports, culture, discipline and education at the Alva’s was not seen anywhere else, eh said.

Moodbidri Jain Mutt Seer Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Panditacharyavarya, foundation chairman M. Mohan Alva, Assistant Conservator of Forests P. Sridhar, associate research director at Brahmavar Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station B. Dhananjay and others were present.