1.5L throng agri fair, showcasing latest options under one roof
Inaugurating the fair, CM Stalin asked officials to ensure support to farmers who visit from far off places and treat them honourably as they are the custodians of farms
The fair also had the latest additions in the agri sector including fertilizers, machinery
TIRUCHY: Over 1.50 lakh farmers, agriculture enthusiasts and students visited the Agri Fair 2023 held in Tiruchy, which had 300 odd stalls, inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
From seeds to seedlings, plants to high yield hybrid trees, conventional tools to latest robotic machines, all that is needed for a farmer was available at the fair. It was an initiative to empower farmers by providing all the stuff needed under one roof.
The fair also had the latest additions in the agri sector such as biofertilizer to synthetic fertiliser, modern micro irrigation system and others. Apart from firms targeting farmers, several government departments including Agriculture, horticulture, tropical crops, agri engineering, agri business and other departments from across the state, especially from the Cauvery delta region, took part in the fair.
The Chief Minister MK Stalin who inaugurated the fair asked the officials to ensure support to the farmers who visit from far off places and treat them honourably as the farmers are the custodians of food production. He also asked officials to provide proper awareness on the millet production on par with paddy as the year 2023 has been dedicated for the millets.
S Duraisamy, a farmer from Tiruvarur, was awestruck at the agri fair. “I was fortunate to look at almost all the stalls and noticed that the traditional farming methods have been provided priority. Several traditional paddy seed varieties were displayed and I even ordered a few varieties which are to be door delivered,” he said.
A farmer from Pudukkottai, Ramanathan, said he saw how the agri sector is moving ahead by the displays in the fairs being conducted. “I never miss any agriculture expo and each time, I witness a step forward in development in technology and this show has impressed me a lot. Though I have been involved in horticulture farming, the exhibits like robotic fruit collector and segregator made me spellbound,” Ramanathan exclaimed.
There were modules of terrace gardening, integrated farming methods and tropical flowers like anthurium, chrysanthemums, orchid, gardenia, begonia and garnish displayed at the fair. It was so fulfilling a visit that despite being a paid visit, more than a lakh visited the expo.
Farmers not only from the delta region but also from far off districts like Kanyakumari, Coimbatore and Villupuram visited the fair. Velayutham who came all the way from Nagercoil said he got good agricultural guidance at the fair. “I came to buy cashew plants but the officials said that the present climate is not conducive and suggested to wait for a few more months. So, I dropped my plan but purchased around 50 jackfruit saplings”, he said.
Agricultural departments which took part in the fair are: horticulture and tropical crops, agriculture marketing and agri business, agriculture engineering, department of sugar, seed certification, veterinary, fisheries, Aavin, handloom, agriculture and processed food products export development authority, cooperative, Tamil Nadu Agriculture university, Tamil Nadu Veterinary science and Research university, Tamil Nadu Fisheries University.