Health freaks go gaga over Organic Mela

BANGALORE: Thousands of health conscious Bangaloreans thronged Lalbagh to shop organic food sold at the ‘Organic Mela’ organised by Jaivik Krushik Society (JKS) which was inaugurated on Saturday. Along with the health freaks, people from various walks of life who had come to the botanical park were busy clearing doubts they had about organic farming, the benefits of consuming organic food etc.“The farmers here clearly explain us the difference between organic and inorganic produce. For instance, the jaggery which is manufactured inorganically is added with powder from animal bones and subjected to hydrox bleaching. This food does have a negative impact on the health. But the ones manufactured through organic method do not have any such negative impacts,” said Kadir, a software employee.There were about thirty stalls at the mela which had organic fruits, vegetables, seeds, and other ready to use food materials like pickles, jam, rotis, pappads, honey, aromatic oils, etc were kept on display and sale.The main attraction of this year’s mela is ‘Nanjangud Rasabale’ along with Spirulina Chocolate, Natural Virgin Coconut Oil, medicinal rice varieties like Karibattha, Kalame, Karikalave and quick cooking millets. Also a clay cooker, non-stick clay tawa, plates and clay refrigerator were among the show stealers list.“We have plans to take this kind organic mela to all parts of the State. From the past three years, we are encouraging organic farming,” said Vanditha sharma, Principal Secretary of Horticulture during the inaguration.Also speaking at the inauguration Dr K Ramakrishnappa, President of Jaivik Krushik Society, said, “As per our estimate, the total profit earned by the organic farmers, only 40 per cent reaches them as most of their profit are exploited by the middle men. By the help of government along with some private linkages there is a need to establish markets for the organic produce with the interference of middle men”.He further said that in the two-day mela more than 10,000 visitors are expected and the total turnover to cross Rs 15 lakh.