Kanpur: State agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi inaugurated a three-day North Regional Kisan Mela at Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, on Thursday. Shahi inspected stalls and obtained information from experts about modern agricultural technologies, advanced machinery, new farming methods and innovations useful to farmers.He said connecting farmers with modern technology and scientific farming, increasing agricultural production and productivity, and making farming more profitable and prosperous were priorities of state govt. He described the event as a ‘Kisan Kumbh’, with farmers from eight north Indian states participating. He urged farmers to learn about new technologies and innovations and apply them in their fields.Gau Seva Aayog chairman Shyam Bihari Gupta appealed to farmers to adopt natural farming and poison-free cultivation to improve soil health.Vice-chancellor Sanjeev Gupta outlined the university’s activities and the programme for the three-day fair and honoured the agriculture minister with ‘ang vastram’.Director Prasar Dr V K Tripathi delivered the vote of thanks and said approximately 7,500 farmers had registered on the first day.Principal secretary, agriculture, M K Shanmuga Sundaram; Kanpur divisional commissioner K Vijayan Pandian; director, agriculture, Tryambak Mani Tripathi; UP Beej Vikas Nigam director Ashutosh Mishra; Kalyanpur Vidhan Sabha MLA Neelima Katiyar; divisional commissioners; joint directors and deputy directors of agriculture from Kanpur, Jhansi and Chitrakoot divisions; university officials; other officials and public representatives attended the event.
