Mangalore : Zilla panchayat CEO N Vijaya Prakash inaugurated a 4^th two-day Jackfruit Mela at Agricultural Scientific department, Ekkur on June 28, Friday.

The Mela was organized by the Krishi Vijnana Kendra in association with Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fishery Science University, Bidar.

Speaking after inaugurating the Mela he said that the Zilla Panchayath has implemented the schemes in the district to sow the saplings in school, hospital, colleges, and government office premises.

He also said that the government will plant the jackfruit plants in 838 hectare in district and 5421 hectare in state. The jackfruit contains rich lactine necessary for human being, hence awareness must be created among the people on the use of jackfruit, he said.

S D Sampath, president, Dakshina Kannada farmers community inaugurated the exhibition stalls.

Dr K M Shankar, Dean University of fisheries delivered the presidential address.

Dr D Chandrashekar Chowda, P Mohan, Dr Varanashi Krishna Murthy,Yogish,Shakuntala were the chief guests.

Growers from various parts of the state took part in the festival and exhibited different varieties of jackfruits grown by them.

The exhibition displayed the jackfruit sapling of various breed like Dose Bakke, Bada Pasand, Utthama Bakke, Lakshmi Bakke, Sarvada and other hybrid sapling too.

Several food items prepared out of jackfruit including jackfruit juice, jam, squash, ‘Saat’, papad, pickle, fry and  namkeen were on display and sale.