Gumless jackfruit & monkey guns big draws at Santhe

Bengaluru: Panduranga Bhat from Puttur was flaunting a no-pellet gun to scare monkeys. All that the gun needed was a stone along with a firecracker. On pulling the trigger, the gun ignited a green-coloured explosion similar to that caused by mini-bombs used for festival celebrations.Bhat’s gun was among the displays put up by 80 nurseries, seed companies, artisans, processed food vendors, fertiliser startups, and agriculture and horticulture researchers grabbing eyeballs at the three-day Sasya Santhe, the sapling fair that concluded at the Gandhi Krishi Vigyana Kendra (GKVK) on Sunday. Open to the public, the annual fair attracted about 25,000 locals, providing nurseries from different parts of Karnataka with a revenue of lakhs of rupees, said Doddabasappa, professor of entomology and a member of the Sasya Santhe organising committee. “Krishi Mela happens at the end of the year and there is no rain at that time. This month is likely to see moisture for the growth of agricultural and horticultural crops and hence a good time to acquaint locals with it. To attract the gathering, old agricultural implements were displayed,” he added.GKVK researchers displayed insects like honeybees and termites (which degrade the stubbles in the field and pulverise the soil). Processed food products that were made on a small scale on the campus, fruit grafts and vegetable seeds were sold.Amla and breadfruit were in high demand. “Around 1 quintal (100kg) of amla harvested on campus was sold out. Its freshness and medicinal properties were driving up the demand. We had harvested 50kg of breadfruit each day, and it was sold out, considering the festival time,” added Doddabasappa.Shubha, from National Seeds Corporation Ltd, was fielding questions on the African tall maize from several visitors. “It can be stored for a few years and then sowed. One bag of 5kg is sufficient for an acre of land. The demand for it comes from its use as cattle fodder. This cannot be consumed by humans.”Gumless jackfruit saplings were in high demand. Visitors were seen buying vegetable seeds and flower saplings, making inquiries about growing lotuses at home while also ensuring no mosquito breeds, the difference between wild honey and that grown on farms, and produce from cold-pressed oils.Even as products were being marketed, there were serious concerns expressed about the quality of water and pollutants that have made their way into the food chain.Lakeman Anand Malligavad, who was the chief guest at the programme and was honoured for his contribution to conserving the lakes, said, “Dakshina Pinakini river has 32 streams — Hebbal, Koramangala, Challaghatta among other valleys — if all lakes are purified, the river will change. That will impact the 80,000 hectares of cultivation of vegetables that come to Bengaluru. Earlier, the water was pristine from Nandi Hills, but now with chemicals polluting the water, the pollutants come back to us through the vegetables and milk we consume.”
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