Mysuru: The Horticulture Department has organised a Sapling Santhe (Fair) at the Curzon Park from July 6 to 12. The week-long Santhe includes the exhibition and sale of saplings.

As the amount of rainfall is decreasing over the years, the Department decided to sell the high quality saplings that are available with the Horticulture Department to the farmers in the Santhe. It is also to encourage the farmers to grow these perennial plants so that they can have variety instead of growing single crops.

There are more than 25 varieties of saplings that include mango, sapota, guava, seethapal, jackfruit, tamarind, lemon, gooseberry, drumstick, coconut, jamoon (nerale), papaya, curry leaf, betel leaf, jasmine to name a few. Each variety of sapling costs anywhere, between Rs. 8 and Rs. 50. While a drumstick sapling costs Rs. 8 coconut one costs Rs. 50. Also a badami and sindur costs Rs. 32 and Dakshina Mallika costs Rs. 30.

The government has fixed the rates of each sapling. It will be available at the Horticulture Department outlets in Kukkarahalli, Yelchanachalli, Chankehalli, Varanchi in Hunsur taluk, Kabini and  Nugu in H.D. Kote, as also most of the nurseries.  Inaugurating the Santhe on July 6, Zilla Panchayat Deputy Secretary Shivakumar Swamy said, “If farmers grow the fruit-bearing trees, then they will look after them for at least 50 years.”  Horticulture Department Senior Assistant Director T.D. Dinesh Kumar and others were present on the occasion.