Matsya Mela, platform to display culinary skills

MANGALORE: People with a flair for cooking fish ��� bongade (mackerel), boothai (sardines), anjal (seer fish) or manji (pomfret) will have an opportunity to display their culinary skills at the Matysa Mela getting underway here from February 13. All they need to do is cook 500 grams of any of these fish, that is, either oil fry them or prepare fish curry and bring it to the venue on Saturday.The top three entries will receive attractive prizes.
The competition is part of the three-day mela being organized by the College of Fisheries, a constituent of KVAFSU, Bidar that seeks to create awareness among people about the importance of fish. The dean (fisheries) of the college, Y Basavarju told reporters here on Tuesday that the Union government has taken measures to popularise importance of fish as a source of nutritive health food besides providing employment opportunities.
The attractions of the mela are exhibition and sale of fish and fishery products, value added fish products, ready to eat fish, aquarium fish and accessories, scientific information, opportunities in the fisheries sector, exhibition of fish related industries, and cultural programmes. All the scientific institutions related to fisheries, industries, aqua culturists will be displaying their activities and products at consultancy information centres.
M V Gupta, World Food Prize winner will inaugurate the mela. Dr Gupta will deliver a special lecture on 'Aquaculture: Contribution to food and livelihood security and challenges for meeting the global demand' at the seminar hall of the college on February 14. Prizes for the best stalls and winners of the cooking competition will be distributed at the valedictory function to be held on February 15. For competition details call 2248936.