Preparations apace for farm expo

P. Rajendran, Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University, reviewing arrangements for a farm expo at the Regional Agriculture Research Station, Ambalavayal, in Wayanad on Wednesday.

Preparations are on the final stage at the Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS) at Ambalavayal here to host the third edition of the National Agriculture Fiesta and the second edition of ‘Poopoly’, a State-level flower show.

The programme, organised jointly by the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) in association with the University of Agriculture Sciences, Bangalore; Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode; Kerala Fisheries and Ocean Sciences University, Kochi, and various Union government organisations, will be held at the RARS from January 20 to February 2.

“The 12-day programme is aimed at sensitising farmers, especially farmers in the high ranges, to the vast commercial potential of horticulture and floriculture in the region as well as to acquaint them with modern agriculture technologies,” P. Rajendran, Vice Chancellor, KAU, told The Hindu after reviewing the arrangements for the programme on Wednesday.

The KAU had earmarked nearly Rs.1 crore for the programme and close to 300 stalls for various government agencies were being put up on the RARS compound spread over 260 acres, he said.

An exhibition of flowers in an area over 10 acres would complement the national agri expo, P. Rajendran , Associate Director, RARS, said . There would be a rose garden with over 2,000 varieties of rose plants, including those from Holland and France, set up on 2.5 acres of land; a gladiolus garden with 100 varieties on two acres; dahlia garden on 3.5 acres with more than 5,000 varieties, and a gerbera garden with 150 varieties on 1.5 acres.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/preparations-apace-for-farm-expo/article6766201.ece