Mysuru: The two-day Organic Millets Mela, organised by the Department of Agriculture of Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Ramanagaram districts, began at Scouts and Guides Grounds near the DC’s office here this morning. Hundreds of farmers from the four districts were ferried to the venue by KSRTC buses and the Mela is being held to create awareness about the advantages of growing millets for the farming community and also about their health benefits to the public.

The two-day Mela was inaugurated by District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa in the presence of MLA Vasu, Mayor M.J. Ravikumar, Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) Chairperson Mallige Veeresh, ZP President Nayeema Sulthana, Mysuru Agriculture Department Joint Director Somasundar, Chamarajanagar Agriculture Department Joint Director Thirumallesh and others.

About 40 stalls have been erected at the venue where farmers from the four districts are selling their produce such as ragi, jowar, paddy, unpolished rice, jaggery and grains which are grown and processed organically and naturally without using chemicals. The Agriculture Department has displayed modern and traditional agricultural equipment at the venue.

Earlier, after the ‘Naada Geethe’ was sung during which those who were present at the venue stood up in respect, the announcer asked the audience to sit down following which the ‘Raitha Geethe’ was played which irked a group of farmers, who alleged that it was a disrespect to the ‘Raitha Geethe’ and staged a protest. The organisers again played the ‘Raitha Geethe’ with everyone standing up.

Today, only seminars would be held and tomorrow a Technical Seminar would be held from 9.30 am to 11.30 am following which a cooking competition using millets would be held from 11.30 am onwards. Valedictory will be held tomorrow at 5 pm during which prizes would be distributed to the winners of the cooking contest.