PM to inaugurate Krishi Unnati Mela tomorrow

New Delhi, Mar 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will tomorrow inaugurate three-day 'Krishi Unnati Mela' providing information on new farm schemes and technologies that will help farmers double their incomes within the next few years.

The mela, or fair, is being held at the Pusa campus in the national capital.

Modi will give away 'Krishi Karman Awards' to states and progressive farmers who have made outstanding contribution in the field of agriculture.

He will also visit the theme pavilion and address farmers. "To reach out to farmers at the block level across the country, the whole event would be telecast live at block panchayat level for the first time," Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh told reporters.

The national fair, from March 19-21, will have separate workshops on key schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana, e-agriculture marketing, integrated farming system, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yojan, soil health and livestock issues.

There will be live demonstration of agriculture and horticultural crops, animal husbandry, innovative technologies and farm mechanisation in big plots.

Both public and private companies will display their farm inputs and technologies in over 500 stalls. Krishi Karman Awards would be given away to eight states -- Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Meghalaya, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal -- for 2014-15.

The commendation awards would be given to three states -- Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa.

PTI